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

Rhea-AI Summary

Akebia Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKBA) granted inducement stock options to seven newly hired employees on April 30, 2026, totaling 208,800 shares.

The options carry an exercise price of $1.38 per share (equal to the closing price on the grant date), vest over four years (25% after one year, then quarterly), and have a 10-year term, granted under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

News Market Reaction – AKBA

-3.33%

12 alerts

-3.33% Session close to close

+4.4% Peak in 1 hr 12 min

$410.42M Market Cap

0.5x Rel. Volume

In the May 5 session, AKBA declined 3.33%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +4.4% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 12 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement details routine inducement stock options for 7 new employees, covering 208,800 sha...

Analysis

This announcement details routine inducement stock options for 7 new employees, covering 208,800 shares at an exercise price of $1.38 with a four-year vesting schedule and 10-year term. It follows an earlier inducement grant in early April and sits alongside recent clinical and governance updates. With shares trading below the 2.1 200-day MA and far from the 4.0787 52-week high, investors may watch future filings and clinical milestones to assess longer-term impact.

Key Figures

New hires: 7 employees Inducement option shares: 208,800 shares Exercise price: $1.38 per share +4 more

7 metrics

New hires 7 employees Recipients of inducement stock options granted April 30, 2026

Inducement option shares 208,800 shares Aggregate options granted to new employees on April 30, 2026

Exercise price $1.38 per share Set equal to AKBA closing price on the grant date

Vesting period 4 years Total vesting period for inducement stock options

Initial vesting 25% after 1 year Portion vesting on first anniversary of grant date

Subsequent vesting 75% quarterly thereafter Remaining shares vest in subsequent quarterly installments

Option term 10 years Maximum term of the inducement stock options

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 13 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Apr 13	Phase 1 trial start	Positive	+5.0%	First participants dosed in Phase 1 AKB-9090 kidney-focused trial.
Apr 07	Investor meetings	Neutral	+4.5%	Management scheduled one-on-one investor meetings at Raymond James biotech symposium.
Apr 02	Inducement grants	Neutral	-4.3%	Inducement stock options for 13 new hires totaling 679,900 shares.
Apr 01	Board change	Positive	-2.1%	Appointment of experienced biopharma leader Philip J. Vickers to board.
Mar 19	R&D day announcement	Positive	+0.0%	Planned virtual R&D Day to review kidney disease pipeline programs.

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

Pattern Detected

Recent news has produced mixed reactions: clinical and investor events saw positive moves, while governance and prior inducement grants sometimes coincided with declines or flat trading.

Recent Company History

Over recent months, Akebia reported several key developments. A Phase 1 trial of AKB‑9090 began dosing participants on Apr 13, 2026, with the stock up 5% the next day. Investor meetings at a Raymond James symposium on Apr 14, 2026 aligned with a 4.55% gain. By contrast, a prior inducement grant announcement on Apr 2, 2026 covering 679,900 shares saw a -4.35% move, and a board change on Apr 1, 2026 coincided with a smaller decline. Today’s similar inducement grant fits into this ongoing pattern of routine corporate actions alongside clinical progress.

Key Terms

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4), stock options

2 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.

stock options financial

"Each stock option has a 10-year term and is subject to the terms..."

Stock options are agreements that give a person the right to buy or sell a company's stock at a specific price within a certain time frame. They are often used as a reward or incentive, similar to a coupon that can be used later if the stock price rises, allowing the holder to make a profit.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 04, 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 7 newly-hired employees options to purchase an aggregate of 208,800 shares of Akebia’s common stock on April 30, 2026. 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 $1.38 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

How many shares were granted to new hires in Akebia's April 30, 2026 inducement (AKBA)?

Akebia granted a total of 208,800 stock options to seven new employees. According to the company, the grants were approved as inducement awards under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

What is the exercise price and term for AKBA inducement options granted April 30, 2026?

The exercise price is $1.38 per share and each option has a 10-year term. According to the company, $1.38 equaled the closing stock price on the grant date.

What is the vesting schedule for Akebia's inducement options for new employees (AKBA)?

Options vest over four years with 25% vesting at the first anniversary and the remaining 75% vesting quarterly thereafter. According to the company, vesting is subject to continued service.

Under which Nasdaq rule were Akebia's April 30, 2026 grants made (AKBA)?

The grants were made under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). According to the company, this rule authorizes inducement awards for newly hired employees outside existing equity plans.

How many employees received inducement stock options from Akebia on April 30, 2026 and what was the purpose?

Seven newly hired employees received inducement options totaling 208,800 shares. According to the company, the awards were material inducements for those employees to join Akebia.