Achieve Life Sciences Announced Granting of New Hire Inducement Awards

Rhea-AI Summary

Achieve Life Sciences (Nasdaq: ACHV) announced that on January 28, 2026 its board approved stock option grants totaling 115,000 shares for five new employees under the 2024 Equity Inducement Plan. Options have an exercise price equal to the closing price on January 28, 2026, four-year terms, and standard time-based vesting (25% after one year, then 36 monthly installments).

The grants were made as inducements in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and are subject to the 2024 Equity Inducement Plan and individual stock option agreements.

Key Figures

Inducement options: 115,000 shares New employees: 5 Option term: 4 years +5 more

8 metrics

Inducement options 115,000 shares Stock options for five new employees under 2024 Equity Inducement Plan

New employees 5 Recipients of inducement stock option grants effective January 28, 2026

Option term 4 years Term of each inducement stock option grant

Initial vesting 25% Vests on first anniversary of employment start date

Remaining vesting period 36 months Monthly vesting for remaining 75% of option shares

Shelf registration $300,000,000 Maximum aggregate offering amount under Form S-3 shelf

Share price $4.34 ACHV price before this inducement award announcement

52-week range $1.84–$6.03 Low and high prices in the last 52 weeks

Market Reality Check

Price: $4.18 Vol: Volume 897,306 vs 20-day ...

normal vol

$4.18 Last Close

Volume Volume 897,306 vs 20-day average 839,465 (relative volume 1.07x) ahead of this HR update. normal

Technical Shares at $4.34, trading above the 200-day MA of $3.56 and 27.97% below the 52-week high of $6.03.

Peers on Argus

ACHV slipped 0.46% while peers were mixed: CHRS up 6.49%, ELDN and NVCT modestly...

ACHV slipped 0.46% while peers were mixed: CHRS up 6.49%, ELDN and NVCT modestly positive, and ACOG and MIST down 4.25% and 3.08%, respectively, suggesting stock-specific trading rather than a sector-wide move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 12 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 12	Executive promotion	Positive	+1.8%	Promotion of interim Chief Medical Officer to permanent CMO role.
Dec 17	Investor meetings	Positive	+2.6%	Planned one-on-one meetings during J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.
Dec 08	Inducement awards	Neutral	-0.2%	Stock option inducement grants for new hires under 2024 plan.
Nov 06	Earnings & pipeline	Negative	-3.9%	Q3 2025 loss and going-concern language alongside NDA acceptance.
Nov 03	Clinical milestone	Positive	-0.2%	Long-term cytisinicline safety data and DSMC review with no concerns.

Pattern Detected

Recent news, including leadership changes, conferences, and prior inducement awards, generally led to modest single-digit price moves, with positive clinical and regulatory updates not always rewarded by the market.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, ACHV has reported several developments around cytisinicline and corporate updates. A Nov 3, 2025 clinical milestone update and the Nov 6, 2025 Q3 results, including an accepted NDA and a June 20, 2026 PDUFA date, were followed by modest share declines. In contrast, management and investor-relations oriented news on Dec 17, 2025 and Jan 12, 2026 saw small gains. A prior inducement award announcement on Dec 8, 2025 had minimal price impact, similar in nature to today’s HR-related equity grants.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf · $300,000,000

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2026-01-23

$300,000,000 registered capacity

An effective Form S-3 shelf filed on 2026-01-23 registers up to $300,000,000 of securities, providing flexibility for future financings across common stock, preferred stock, debt, warrants, subscription rights, or units. As of this context, reported usage count is 0, leaving the full registered amount available for potential capital raises.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details routine inducement stock option awards for five new employees, totaling 11...

Analysis

This announcement details routine inducement stock option awards for five new employees, totaling 115,000 shares with four-year vesting and a standard 25% first-year cliff. Historically, similar HR-related equity updates for ACHV have produced minimal price impact. In the background, the company holds an effective shelf for up to $300,000,000 of securities and has advanced its cytisinicline NDA, so future updates on financing choices and regulatory progress remain key watchpoints.

Key Terms

stock option, exercise price, nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4)

3 terms

stock option financial

"approved stock option grants to purchase an aggregate of 115,000 shares"

A stock option is a contract that gives you the right to buy or sell a company's stock at a specific price within a certain time frame. People use them to potentially make money if the stock's price moves favorably or to protect against losses. It's like holding a coupon that can be used to buy or sell stock at a set price later on.

exercise price financial

"The stock options have an exercise price equal to the closing price"

The exercise price is the fixed amount at which you can buy or sell an asset, like a stock, when using an options contract. It matters because it helps determine whether exercising the option will be profitable or not, depending on the current market price. Think of it as the set price you agree on today to buy or sell later.

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"made as an inducement material ... in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)"

NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) is a rule that requires a company to get approval from its shareholders before selling a large amount of its shares, usually over 20%. This helps protect investors by making sure the company doesn't flood the market with new shares without their say, which could lower the stock's value.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

SEATTLE and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHV), a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline as a treatment of nicotine dependence, today announced that effective January 28, 2026, Achieve’s board of directors approved stock option grants to purchase an aggregate of 115,000 shares of its common stock for five new employees under Achieve’s 2024 Equity Inducement Plan.   

The stock options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of Achieve’s common stock on January 28, 2026. Each stock option has a four-year term and will vest as to 25% of the shares underlying the stock option on the first anniversary following commencement of employment. The remaining 75% of the shares underlying the stock option will vest in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to the employee’s continued service through each applicable vesting date.

The stock options are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2024 Equity Inducement Plan, as well as the terms and conditions of the stock option agreement covering the grant and were made as an inducement material to the individual entering into employment with Achieve in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

About Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. 
Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. is a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline as a treatment of nicotine dependence. In September 2025, the company announced that its New Drug Application, submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2025, had been accepted for review. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of June 20, 2026. The NDA is for cytisinicline to be used as a treatment of nicotine dependence for smoking cessation in adults, based on two successfully completed Phase 3 studies and its open-label safety study. Additionally, the company has completed a Phase 2 study with cytisinicline in vaping cessation and conducted a successful end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA for a future vaping indication.

About Cytisinicline
There are approximately 29 million adults in the United States who smoke combustible cigarettes.¹ Tobacco use is currently the leading cause of preventable death that is responsible for more than eight million deaths worldwide and nearly half a million deaths in the United States annually.^2,3 More than 87% of lung cancer deaths, 61% of all pulmonary disease deaths, and 32% of all deaths from coronary heart disease are attributable to smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.³

In addition, there are approximately 17 million adults in the United States who use e-cigarettes, also known as vaping.⁴ In 2024, approximately 1.6 million middle and high school students in the United States reported using e-cigarettes.⁵ There are no FDA-approved treatments indicated specifically as an aid to nicotine e-cigarette cessation. FDA has awarded the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher for e-cigarette or vaping cessation and granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to address this critical need.

Cytisinicline is a plant-based alkaloid with a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is believed to aid in treating nicotine addiction for smoking and e-cigarette cessation by interacting with nicotine receptors in the brain, reducing the severity of nicotine craving symptoms, and reducing the reward and satisfaction associated with nicotine products. Cytisinicline is an investigational product candidate being developed as a treatment of nicotine dependence for smoking cessation and has not been approved by the FDA for any indication in the United States.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements Achieve makes regarding the timing and nature of cytisinicline clinical development and regulatory review and approval, data results and commercialization activities, the potential market size for cytisinicline, the potential benefits, efficacy, safety and tolerability of cytisinicline, the development and effectiveness of new treatments, and the successful commercialization of cytisinicline. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Achieve may not actually achieve its plans or product development goals in a timely manner, if at all, or otherwise carry out its intentions or meet its expectations or projections disclosed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including Achieve’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Achieve undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.

Achieve Contact
Nicole Jones
VP, Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Relations
ir@achievelifesciences.com
425-686-1510

References
¹VanFrank B, Malarcher A, Cornelius ME, Schecter A, Jamal A, Tynan M. Adult Smoking Cessation — United States, 2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:633–641.
²World Health Organization. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017.
³U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking – 50 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014.
⁴Vahratian A, Briones EM, Jamal A, Marynak KL. Electronic cigarette use among adults in the United States, 2019–2023. NCHS Data Brief, no 524. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2025. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/ 10.15620/cdc/174583.
⁵Jamal A, Park-Lee E, Birdsey J, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:917–924.

FAQ

What did Achieve Life Sciences (ACHV) announce about new hire stock options on January 28, 2026?

Achieve granted stock options covering 115,000 shares to five new employees on January 28, 2026. According to Achieve Life Sciences, the options were approved by the board under the 2024 Equity Inducement Plan and set as inducements for new hires.

What are the exercise price and term for the ACHV new hire stock options?

The exercise price equals Achieve's closing stock price on January 28, 2026 and each option has a four-year term. According to Achieve Life Sciences, exercise price is tied to the market close that date and term is fixed at four years.

How do the ACHV new hire stock options vest for employees?

Vesting is 25% after one year, then the remaining 75% vests in 36 equal monthly installments. According to Achieve Life Sciences, vesting is subject to continued employment and the terms of the option agreement and plan.

Under which plan were Achieve's January 2026 inducement stock options granted?

The options were granted under the 2024 Equity Inducement Plan as inducement awards. According to Achieve Life Sciences, the grants comply with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and are subject to plan and agreement terms.

How many employees received stock option grants and how many shares were involved for ACHV?

Five new employees received stock options totaling 115,000 shares. According to Achieve Life Sciences, the aggregate grant was approved by the board and allocated among the five hires under the inducement plan.