aTyr Pharma (Nasdaq: ATYR) disclosed inducement option grants dated February 17, 2026, awarding two new employees an aggregate of 12,200 nonstatutory stock options at an exercise price of $0.98 per share, equal to the closing price on that date.
Each option vests over four years (25% at one year, then monthly over three years) and was granted under the 2022 Inducement Plan in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
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Key Figures
Inducement option shares:12,200 sharesOption exercise price:$0.98 per shareInitial vesting tranche:25% of shares+2 more
5 metrics
Inducement option shares12,200 sharesNonstatutory stock options granted to two new employees
Option exercise price$0.98 per shareExercise price equal to Feb 17, 2026 Nasdaq closing price
Initial vesting tranche25% of sharesVests on one-year anniversary of vesting commencement date
Remaining vesting75% of sharesVests in equal monthly installments over three years
Vesting period lengthFour yearsTotal vesting period for each inducement option award
Market Reality Check
Price:$1.05Vol:Volume 408,432 is 0.15x t...
low vol
$1.05Last Close
VolumeVolume 408,432 is 0.15x the 20-day average of 2,711,555, indicating subdued trading ahead of this update.low
TechnicalShares at $1.05 are trading below the 200-day MA of $2.69 and about 85.6% under the 52-week high.
Peers on Argus
ATYR was down 0.69% with peers mixed: KOD (+1.93%), OLMA (+1.54%) and ORKA (+0.5...
ATYR was down 0.69% with peers mixed: KOD (+1.93%), OLMA (+1.54%) and ORKA (+0.53%) higher, while OPT (−2.01%) and SAGE (−0.69%) declined. No clear, unified sector direction.
Recent news — especially negative clinical and earnings updates — has often coincided with share price declines, while neutral conference items have produced modest, mixed reactions.
Recent Company History
Over the past six months, aTyr’s key updates have centered on efzofitimod clinical data and corporate visibility. A September 2025 Phase 3 readout and a November 2025 earnings update both highlighted a missed primary endpoint, with shares falling 9.28% and 5.35% respectively. Neutral conference announcements in November 2025 and February 2026 saw smaller moves between about −3% and +1%. Today’s inducement option grants fit into an ongoing pattern of equity-based compensation rather than a major clinical or financial catalyst.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details a small inducement grant of 12,200 nonstatutory stock options at an exerci...
Analysis
This announcement details a small inducement grant of 12,200 nonstatutory stock options at an exercise price of $0.98, vesting over four years under the 2022 Inducement Plan. It is a standard hiring-related action rather than a major clinical or financial catalyst. In context, ATYR shares were trading well below their 52-week high and under the 200-day MA, while recent news flow has focused on efzofitimod’s Phase 3 outcomes and upcoming regulatory interactions.
"has granted two employees nonstatutory stock options to purchase an aggregate"
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.
nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4)regulatory
"material to the new employees entering into employment with aTyr 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.
tRNA synthetasemedical
"first-in-class medicines from its proprietary tRNA synthetase platform"
tRNA synthetase is an enzyme that matches each building block of proteins (an amino acid) to its correct carrier molecule called transfer RNA (tRNA), ensuring proteins are assembled correctly in cells. Think of it as a factory worker who puts the right part onto the right delivery tray before assembly; if it fails, proteins can be made incorrectly. Investors watch these enzymes because they can be drug targets, biomarkers of disease, or sources of genetic disorders that affect a company’s therapeutic or safety profile.
interstitial lung diseasemedical
"in clinical development for the treatment of interstitial lung disease, a group"
A group of lung conditions that cause inflammation and scarring of the thin tissue between the air sacs, which makes it harder for oxygen to pass into the blood; imagine the lungs’ fine filters becoming stiff and less effective. Investors care because reports of interstitial lung disease can affect a drug’s safety profile, trigger regulatory warnings or label changes, and shift demand for treatments or create liability risks that influence a company’s valuation.
fibrosismedical
"disorders that can cause inflammation and progressive fibrosis, or scarring, of the lungs"
Fibrosis is the process where excess scar tissue forms in an organ or tissue, often as a response to injury or long-term damage. This buildup can impair normal function, much like thickening insulation reduces the effectiveness of a wire. For investors, fibrosis is significant because it can signal ongoing health issues that may lead to increased medical costs or influence a company’s performance in healthcare-related sectors.
immunomodulatormedical
"efzofitimod, a novel biologic immunomodulator in clinical development for the treatment"
An immunomodulator is a medicine or therapy that changes how the immune system behaves—either boosting its ability to fight infections and cancer or calming it to reduce harmful inflammation. Investors watch these products because their success in clinical trials, safety and side-effect profiles, and regulatory approvals can open large markets or limit sales; think of them as tools that tweak the body’s defense system, with outcomes that strongly affect a drug maker’s future revenue and stock value.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- aTyr Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATYR) (“aTyr” or “the Company”), a clinical stage biotechnology company engaged in the discovery and development of first-in-class medicines from its proprietary tRNA synthetase platform, today announced that the Compensation Committee of aTyr’s Board of Directors has granted two employees nonstatutory stock options to purchase an aggregate of 12,200 shares of aTyr’s common stock, each with an exercise price of $0.98 per share, which is equal to the closing price of aTyr’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 17, 2026, the effective date of the grants. These stock awards were granted as an inducement material to the new employees entering into employment with aTyr in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and were made pursuant to the aTyr Pharma, Inc. 2022 Inducement Plan.
Each option vests over a period of four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date and the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over three years, subject to the applicable employee’s continued employment with aTyr through each vesting date. The options are subject to the terms and conditions of the aTyr Pharma, Inc. 2022 Inducement Plan and the terms and conditions of an award agreement covering the grant.
About aTyr
aTyr is a clinical stage biotechnology company leveraging evolutionary intelligence to translate tRNA synthetase biology into new therapies for fibrosis and inflammation. tRNA synthetases are ancient, essential proteins that have evolved novel domains that regulate diverse pathways extracellularly in humans. aTyr’s discovery platform is focused on unlocking hidden therapeutic intervention points by uncovering signaling pathways driven by its proprietary library of domains derived from all 20 tRNA synthetases. aTyr’s lead therapeutic candidate is efzofitimod, a novel biologic immunomodulator in clinical development for the treatment of interstitial lung disease, a group of immune-mediated disorders that can cause inflammation and progressive fibrosis, or scarring, of the lungs. For more information, please visit www.atyrpharma.com.
Contact: Ashlee Dunston Sr. Director, Investor Relations and Public Affairs adunston@atyrpharma.com
FAQ
What stock awards did aTyr (ATYR) grant on February 17, 2026?
aTyr granted an aggregate of 12,200 nonstatutory stock options to two new employees. According to the company, each option has an exercise price of $0.98, matching the closing stock price on February 17, 2026, and vests over four years.
How do the aTyr (ATYR) inducement options vest and when do they begin vesting?
The options vest over four years: 25% after one year, then monthly over three years. According to the company, vesting is subject to each employee's continued employment through each vesting date.
Under which plan were the ATYR inducement grants made and why?
The grants were made under the aTyr Pharma 2022 Inducement Plan as inducement awards. According to the company, they were material to hire two new employees consistent with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
What is the exercise price and how was it determined for the ATYR options?
The exercise price for each option is $0.98 per share. According to the company, this equals the closing price of aTyr common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on February 17, 2026, the effective grant date.
Will the ATYR inducement option grants dilute existing shareholders materially?
The release does not quantify shares outstanding, so material dilution is not stated. According to the company, the grants total 12,200 shares; investors should compare that to total outstanding shares to assess dilution.
