Akebia Therapeutics Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Akebia Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKBA) granted inducement stock options to a newly hired employee on December 31, 2025 under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The grant covers 197,900 options with an exercise price of $1.61 per share (equal to the closing price on the grant date). Options vest over four years (25% on the first anniversary, then quarterly thereafter), each option has a 10-year term, and awards are subject to Akebia’s inducement award program and a stock option agreement.

Key Figures

Inducement options granted 197,900 options Granted to one newly hired employee on December 31, 2025

Exercise price $1.61 per share Equal to closing price on the December 31, 2025 grant date

Vesting period 4 years Inducement stock options vest over four years

Initial vesting tranche 25% of shares Vest on first anniversary of grant date

Subsequent vesting 75% of shares Vest quarterly after first anniversary, subject to continued service

Option term 10 years Each stock option has a 10-year term

Market Reality Check

$1.52 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,508,354 is at 0.89x the 20-day average of 2,803,959 shares. normal

Technical Price $1.55 is trading below the 200-day moving average of $2.69 and 62% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

Peers in Pharmaceutical Preparations show mixed moves: AQST -1.38%, ESPR -3.89%, ORGO -10.52%, DVAX -0.06%, while SIGA +1.62%, indicating stock-specific trading rather than a unified sector move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
2025-12-01	Inducement grants	Neutral	-2.6%	Stock options granted to two new hires under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4).
2025-12-01	Pipeline expansion	Positive	-4.4%	Established rare kidney disease pipeline with AKB-097 and praliciguat Phase 2 plans.
2025-11-24	Conference appearance	Neutral	+2.6%	Participation in Piper Sandler 37th Annual Healthcare Conference fireside chat.
2025-11-10	Earnings update	Positive	-18.1%	Q3 2025 results with higher revenue, Vafseo launch, and positive INNO2VATE data.
2025-11-06	Clinical data	Positive	-5.2%	Post‑hoc INNO2VATE analysis showed more favorable mortality and hospitalization composite.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Akebia reported several business and clinical milestones. These include prior inducement grants under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) on 2025-11-28, establishment of a rare kidney disease pipeline, participation in the Piper Sandler 37th Annual Healthcare Conference on 2025-12-02, detailed Q3 2025 financial results with higher revenue and a small profit, and post‑hoc INNO2VATE data showing statistically more favorable outcomes for Vafseo (vadadustat) versus ESAs. Today’s inducement grant fits within ongoing routine corporate and compensation activity.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details a routine inducement stock option grant of 197,900 shares at an exercise price of $1.61 per share under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The options vest over four years and carry a 10‑year term, reflecting standard talent‑retention practices. In context of prior clinical, pipeline, and financial updates, this filing mainly informs shareholders about ongoing use of equity compensation rather than signaling a change in strategy or fundamentals. Investors may track future grants and overall equity usage over time.

Key Terms

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"The options were granted 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.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akebia Therapeutics^®, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease, granted one newly-hired employee options to purchase an aggregate of 197,900 shares of Akebia’s common stock on December 31, 2025. The options were granted as an inducement material to the employee entering into employment with Akebia. The options were granted in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The options have an exercise price of $1.61 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Akebia’s common stock on the grant date. The stock options vest over four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% of shares vesting quarterly thereafter, in each case, subject to the new employee’s continued service with Akebia. Each stock option has a 10-year term and is subject to the terms and conditions of Akebia’s inducement award program and a stock option agreement covering the grant.

About Akebia Therapeutics

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease. Akebia was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit our website at www.akebia.com, which does not form a part of this release.

Akebia Therapeutics Contact

Mercedes Carrasco
mcarrasco@akebia.com

FAQ

What did Akebia (AKBA) announce on January 5, 2026 about stock option grants?

Akebia announced an inducement grant of 197,900 stock options to a new hire dated Dec 31, 2025 under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4).

What is the exercise price and grant date for Akebia's AKBA inducement options?

The options have an exercise price of $1.61 per share, equal to the closing price on the Dec 31, 2025 grant date.

How do the Akebia (AKBA) inducement options vest and how long is the term?

Options vest over four years (25% on first anniversary, remaining 75% quarterly) and each option has a 10‑year term.

Why were the Akebia (AKBA) options granted under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4)?

They were granted as an inducement material to the individual entering employment, consistent with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Will the AKBA inducement grant immediately dilute existing shareholders?

The announcement lists 197,900 options granted but does not disclose total shares outstanding or immediate dilution impact.