Evelo Biosciences Announces Inducement Award Plan for Expanding Leadership Team

Rhea-AI Summary

Evelo Biosciences (Nasdaq: EVLO) announced an inducement equity plan as it accelerates growth and prepares to expand its Leadership Team. Effective June 1, 2021, Luca Scavo took on the role of Chief Financial Officer, receiving options for 300,000 shares at $14.24 each and 4,545 restricted stock units. These grants follow the 2021 Employment Inducement Award Plan approved by the Board. Evelo is focused on developing orally delivered medicines targeting the immune, metabolic, and neurological systems, with four product candidates currently in development.

Positive

• Inducement equity plan approved to support growth and leadership expansion.
• Luca Scavo's appointment as CFO brings fresh expertise and perspectives.

Negative

• The company has incurred significant losses and is not currently profitable.
• There are known risks and uncertainties regarding clinical trials and business continuity.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evelo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: EVLO), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing a new modality of orally delivered medicines, announced that given accelerating growth to later-stage development and the anticipated hiring and expansion of the Leadership Team, the Evelo Board of Directors has approved an inducement equity plan.

On June 1, 2021, Luca Scavo commenced his services as Evelo’s Chief Financial Officer. In connection with the commencement of Mr. Scavo’s employment, the Company issued to Mr. Scavo an option to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with a per share exercise price of $14.24 the closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 1, 2021, and 4,545 restricted stock units. The stock option and restricted stock units were granted pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Employment Inducement Award Plan and were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The stock option vests (subject to Mr. Scavo’s continued service to the Company through the applicable vesting dates) 25% on June 1, 2022, and in 36 substantially equal monthly installments over the three years thereafter and has a ten-year term. The restricted stock units vest in full upon Mr. Scavo’s completion of three years of service on June 1, 2024. The stock option and restricted stock units were granted under Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules as an inducement material to Mr. Scavo’s entering into employment with the Company.

About Evelo Biosciences
Evelo Biosciences is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing orally delivered medicines that act on the small intestinal axis, SINTAX™, to have systemic therapeutic effects. SINTAX plays a central role in governing the immune, metabolic, and neurological systems.

Evelo currently has four product candidates in development: EDP1815, EDP1867, and EDP2939 for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and EDP1908 for the treatment of cancer. Evelo is advancing additional product candidates in other disease areas.

For more information, please visit www.evelobio.com and engage with Evelo on LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements concerning the development of our product candidates and the promise and potential impact of our product candidates.

These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, including our preclinical studies and clinical trials, and the continuity of our business; we have incurred significant losses, are not currently profitable and may never become profitable; our need for additional funding; our limited operating history; our unproven approach to therapeutic intervention; the lengthy, expensive, and uncertain process of clinical drug development, including potential delays in regulatory approval; our reliance on third parties and collaborators to expand our microbial library, conduct our clinical trials, manufacture our product candidates, and develop and commercialize our product candidates, if approved; our lack of experience in manufacturing, selling, marketing, and distributing our product candidates; failure to compete successfully against other drug companies; protection of our proprietary technology and the confidentiality of our trade secrets; potential lawsuits for, or claims of, infringement of third-party intellectual property or challenges to the ownership of our intellectual property; our patents being found invalid or unenforceable; risks associated with international operations; our ability to retain key personnel and to manage our growth; the potential volatility of our common stock; our management and principal stockholders have the ability to control or significantly influence our business; costs and resources of operating as a public company; unfavorable or no analyst research or reports; and securities class action litigation against us.

These and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contact
Jessica Cotrone, 978-760-5622
jcotrone@evelobio.com

FAQ

What new executive changes were announced by Evelo Biosciences on June 1, 2021?

Evelo Biosciences announced the appointment of Luca Scavo as Chief Financial Officer, effective June 1, 2021.

What inducement equity plan was approved by Evelo's Board of Directors?

The Board approved an inducement equity plan as part of hiring and expanding the leadership team.

What stock options were granted to Luca Scavo at Evelo?

Luca Scavo was granted options for 300,000 shares at an exercise price of $14.24, along with 4,545 restricted stock units.

How is Evelo Biosciences addressing its significant losses?

Evelo has acknowledged its significant losses and is focused on developing its product candidates to achieve profitability.

What are the risks associated with Evelo's business?

Evelo faces risks related to clinical trial developments, regulatory approvals, and continuity of operations, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.