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

Rhea-AI Summary

Akebia Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKBA) granted inducement stock options to two newly hired employees on November 28, 2025 under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The awards total 22,576 options with an exercise price of $1.58 per share (equal to the closing price on the grant date). Options vest over four years (25% at the first anniversary, then quarterly vesting for the remaining 75%), have a 10-year term, and are governed by Akebia’s inducement award program and stock option agreement.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akebia Therapeutics^®, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease, granted two newly-hired employees options to purchase an aggregate of 22,576 shares of Akebia’s common stock on November 28, 2025. The options were granted as an inducement material to each 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 $1.58 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 December 1, 2025 about executive hires and stock options?

Akebia announced inducement grants of 22,576 stock options to two new employees granted on November 28, 2025.

What is the exercise price of the AKBA inducement options granted November 28, 2025?

The exercise price is $1.58 per share, equal to Akebia’s closing stock price on the grant date.

How do the AKBA inducement stock options vest and when do they expire?

Options vest over four years (25% after one year, then quarterly for 75%) and have a 10-year term.

Under which rule were Akebia’s November 28, 2025 option grants made?

The grants were made under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as inducement awards for new hires.

Do Akebia’s inducement options affect existing shareholder approvals?

The company reported the grants as inducement awards under Nasdaq rules; no shareholder approval was stated in the announcement.

How many employees received inducement grants and how many options were awarded by Akebia?

Two newly hired employees received a total of 22,576 options.