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

Akebia Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKBA) granted inducement stock options to a newly hired employee on December 31, 2025 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.

Argus Jan 6 session

-2.65% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – AKBA

On Jan 6, the first trading day after this news, AKBA closed 2.65% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jan 6 session.

Market Context

This announcement details a routine inducement stock option grant of 197,900 shares at an exercise p...

Analysis

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 Figures

Inducement options granted: 197,900 options Exercise price: $1.61 per share Vesting period: 4 years +3 more

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

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: 2025-12-01

5 events

1. 2025-12-01

   Inducement grants

   24h Move

   -2.6%

   Stock options granted to two new hires under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4).

2. 2025-12-01

   Pipeline expansion

   24h Move

   -4.4%

   Established rare kidney disease pipeline with AKB-097 and praliciguat Phase 2 plans.

3. 2025-11-24

   Conference appearance

   24h Move

   +2.6%

   Participation in Piper Sandler 37th Annual Healthcare Conference fireside chat.

4. 2025-11-10

   Earnings update

   24h Move

   -18.1%

   Q3 2025 results with higher revenue, Vafseo launch, and positive INNO2VATE data.

5. 2025-11-06

   Clinical data

   24h Move

   -5.2%

   Post‑hoc INNO2VATE analysis showed more favorable mortality and hospitalization composite.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4)

1 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. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

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

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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.