VANCOUVER, British Columbia & GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Alpha Cognition Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOG) (“Alpha Cognition”, “ACI”, or the “Company”), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, today announced that on August 31st, 2026, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) granted inducement awards consisting of nonstatutory stock options to purchase 20,000 shares of common stock to a new non-executive employee under the Company’s 2026 Inducement Grant Plan. The 2026 Inducement Grant Plan is used exclusively for the grant of equity awards to individuals who were not previously an employee of the Company. The Compensation Committee approved the stock options as an inducement material to such new employee entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
Each stock option has an exercise price equal to $9.27 per share, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on August 31st, 2026, and will vest over three years, with one-third (1/3) vesting at the first anniversary of the date of grant, and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) vesting in equal quarterly installments over the following two (2) years, subject to the new employee’s continued service relationship with the Company through the applicable vesting dates. The stock options are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2026 Inducement Grant Plan and the applicable stock option agreement covering the grant.
About Alpha Cognition Inc.
Alpha Cognition Inc. is a commercial stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Cognitive Impairment with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (“mTBI”), for which there are currently no approved treatment options.
ZUNVEYL is a patented drug approved as a new generation acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, with expected minimal gastrointestinal side effects. ZUNVEYL’s active metabolite is differentiated from donepezil and rivastigmine in that it binds neuronal nicotinic receptors, most notably the alpha-7 subtype, which is known to have a positive effect on cognition. ALPHA-1062 is also being developed in combination with memantine to treat moderate to severe Alzheimer’s dementia, and as an intranasal formulation for Cognitive Impairment with mTBI.
A nonstatutory stock option is a company-issued right that lets an employee or contractor buy shares later at a set price, but it does not qualify for special tax breaks. Think of it like a voucher to buy stock at today’s price; when used, the difference between market price and voucher price is taxed as ordinary income to the holder. Investors care because these options create potential share dilution, affect reported compensation costs, and influence employee incentives and cash flow when taxes and withholdings are settled.
inducement grant planfinancial
An inducement grant plan is a program of equity or stock-based awards given to a newly hired employee as a hiring incentive, typically outside a company’s existing shareholder-approved compensation plan. It works like a sign-on bonus paid in stock options or restricted shares to attract talent, and matters to investors because it increases potential share dilution and signals how a company is spending equity to recruit key personnel.
nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4)regulatory
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.
acetylcholinesterase inhibitormedical
A drug that slows or blocks the enzyme responsible for breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, so that the chemical signal stays active longer in the brain or nerves. Investors care because these medicines can improve symptoms in certain neurological and muscular conditions, so their effectiveness, safety profile, regulatory approval, patent protection, and market demand directly affect revenue prospects and risk for companies developing or selling them.
active metabolitemedical
An active metabolite is a chemical that a body creates when it breaks down a drug, and that chemical itself has medicinal effects. Think of the original drug as raw ingredients and the active metabolite as the finished dish that actually delivers flavor — sometimes the metabolite does most of the work, lasts longer, or causes side effects. For investors, knowing whether a drug relies on active metabolites matters because it affects dosing, safety, regulatory review, market value, and how competing drugs or interactions might change a product’s commercial prospects.
