Crescent Biopharma Announces Grants of Inducement Awards

Crescent Biopharma (Nasdaq: CBIO) announced inducement option awards totaling 45,675 shares to two non-executive employees, approved March 5, 2026 under its 2025 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan.

Rhea-AI Summary

Crescent Biopharma (Nasdaq: CBIO) announced inducement option awards totaling 45,675 shares to two non-executive employees, approved March 5, 2026 under its 2025 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan. The options carry a 10-year term and an exercise price of $11.33 (Nasdaq close on March 5, 2026).

Vesting: 25% vests on the first anniversary of each employee’s start date, then 1/48th monthly thereafter, subject to continuous service and the plan and option agreement terms; grants were made in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Argus Mar 9 session

-0.41% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – CBIO

On Mar 9, the first trading day after this news, CBIO closed 0.41% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Mar 9 session.

Market Context

This announcement details standard inducement option grants totaling 45,675 shares at an exercise pr...

Analysis

This announcement details standard inducement option grants totaling 45,675 shares at an exercise price of $11.33 with a 10-year term and staged vesting over roughly four years. Contextually, it follows recent clinical and financing milestones outlined in February filings and press releases. Investors may watch how ongoing hiring, trial execution, and future regulatory updates interact with the company’s position near its 52‑week low.

Key Figures

Inducement options: 45,675 shares Exercise price: $11.33 Option term: 10 years +2 more

Inducement options

45,675 shares

Aggregate options granted to two non-executive employees

Exercise price

$11.33

Exercise price per share, equal to March 5, 2026 close

Option term

10 years

Duration of inducement stock options under Inducement Plan

Initial vesting

1/4 of shares

Vest on first anniversary of each employee’s start date

Ongoing vesting

1/48 monthly

Monthly vesting after first anniversary, subject to continuous service

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 26

5 events

1. Feb 26

   Earnings and update

   24h Move

   -1.2%

   Q4 and 2025 results with partnership, IND progress and $185M financing.

2. Feb 23

   Investor conferences

   24h Move

   -1.6%

   Planned presentations at TD Cowen and Leerink investor conferences in March.

3. Feb 19

   Inducement awards

   24h Move

   +20.8%

   Inducement option grants totaling 24,600 shares to two employees.

4. Feb 18

   Clinical trial start

   24h Move

   +4.2%

   First patient dosed in ASCEND Phase 1/2 trial of CR-001.

5. Feb 5

   Conference appearance

   24h Move

   -3.1%

   Guggenheim biotech summit fireside chat and webcast availability.

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

"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.

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WALTHAM, Mass., March 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crescent Biopharma, Inc. (“Crescent” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CBIO), a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to rapidly advancing the next wave of therapies for cancer patients, today announced that the independent Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors approved the grant of options to purchase an aggregate of 45,675 shares of the Company’s ordinary shares to two non-executive employees as equity inducement awards under the Crescent Biopharma, Inc. 2025 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan, as amended (the “Inducement Plan”). The options were approved on March 5, 2026 and were material to each employee's acceptance of employment with Crescent, in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The options were granted with a 10-year term and an exercise price equal to $11.33, the closing price per share of Crescent’s ordinary shares as reported by Nasdaq on March 5, 2026. The options granted to each employee shall vest and become exercisable as to one-fourth (1/4th) of the shares subject to the respective options on the first anniversary of the employee’s start date, and one-forty-eighth (1/48th) of the shares subject to the respective options shall vest and become exercisable monthly thereafter, in each case, subject to continuous service with Crescent through the applicable vesting dates. The options are subject to the terms of the Inducement Plan and the terms and conditions of an option agreement covering the applicable grant.

About Crescent Biopharma 

Crescent Biopharma’s vision is to build a world leading oncology company bringing the next wave of therapies for cancer patients. The Company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes its lead program, a PD-1 x VEGF bispecific antibody, as well as novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). By leveraging multiple modalities and established targets, Crescent aims to rapidly advance potentially transformative therapies either as single agents or as part of combination regimens to treat a range of solid tumors. For more information, visit www.crescentbiopharma.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn and X. 

Contact

Amy Reilly
Chief Communications Officer
amy.reilly@crescentbiopharma.com
617-465-0586

FAQ

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

What did Crescent Biopharma (CBIO) announce on March 6, 2026 about inducement awards?

Crescent granted options for an aggregate of 45,675 shares to two non-executive employees. According to the company, the grants were approved March 5, 2026 under its 2025 Inducement Plan, with a 10-year term and $11.33 exercise price.

What is the exercise price and term of the CBIO inducement options granted March 5, 2026?

The options carry a 10-year term and an exercise price of $11.33 per share. According to the company, $11.33 equals Crescent’s Nasdaq closing price on March 5, 2026 used for the grants.

How do the CBIO inducement options vest for the two new employees?

Options vest 25% after the first anniversary, then 1/48th monthly thereafter. According to the company, vesting is subject to continuous service and the terms of the Inducement Plan and individual option agreements.

Why were the CBIO option grants disclosed under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)?

The grants were material to each employee’s acceptance of employment, triggering disclosure under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). According to the company, the committee approved the inducement awards on March 5, 2026 in accordance with that rule.

Do the CBIO inducement options impose any service conditions or agreements?

Yes. The options are conditioned on continuous service and governed by the Inducement Plan and individual option agreements. According to the company, vesting and exercise are subject to the terms and conditions of those governing documents.