Crinetics Pharmaceuticals Announces December 2025 Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Crinetics Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: CRNX) announced on December 10, 2025 inducement equity awards under its 2021 Inducement Plan to nine new non-executive employees.

The Compensation Committee granted an aggregate of 39,575 non-qualified stock options and 26,525 restricted stock units (RSUs). Options have an exercise price of $48.06, equal to the Dec. 10, 2025 closing price. Options vest over four years (25% at one year, then monthly over 36 months); RSUs vest in four equal annual installments, all subject to continued employment and plan terms. Grants were made pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Key Figures

Inducement stock options 39,575 options Non-qualified options granted Dec 10, 2025 to new employees

Inducement RSUs 26,525 RSUs Restricted stock units granted Dec 10, 2025

New employees 9 employees Non-executive hires receiving inducement equity awards

Option exercise price $48.06 per share Equal to Nasdaq closing price on Dec 10, 2025

Option vesting term 4 years 25% after 1 year, then 36 monthly installments

RSU vesting term 4 years Equal annual installments starting 1-year from vesting date

Market Reality Check

$48.06 Last Close

Volume Volume 564,564 is below the 20-day average of 1,311,753 (relative volume 0.43). low

Technical Price $48.06 is trading above the 200-day MA of $34.73.

Peers on Argus

CRNX was at $48.06 pre-news, up 1.05%. Peers showed mixed moves: IMVT +3.97%, PTGX +3.18%, APLS +3.48% versus KYMR -3.42% and VKTX -1.53%, indicating stock-specific rather than broad sector direction.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 03	Clinical trial start	Positive	+4.4%	First patient dosed in Phase 1/2 BRAVESST2 trial for CRN09682.
Nov 20	Phase 3 trial start	Positive	+2.1%	First patient randomized in pivotal Phase 3 CAREFNDR paltusotine trial.
Nov 10	Inducement grants	Neutral	+3.6%	Equity inducement awards to new employees under 2021 Inducement Plan.
Nov 06	Earnings update	Positive	+2.3%	Q3 2025 results and business update following first FDA approval.
Oct 23	Conference data	Positive	-0.9%	NANETS 2025 data including 74% one‑year PFS for paltusotine.

Pattern Detected

Recent CRNX news, especially clinical and corporate updates, has usually been followed by modest positive price reactions, with one conference-related update showing a small negative divergence.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Crinetics reported several milestones, including first dosing in the Phase 1/2 BRAVESST2 trial for CRN09682 on Dec 03, 2025 and first randomization in the pivotal Phase 3 CAREFNDR trial on Nov 20, 2025, both with positive price reactions. Q3 2025 earnings on Nov 06, 2025 highlighted the first FDA approval and launch of PALSONIFY and a sizeable cash position. The November 2025 inducement grants show a pattern of recurring hiring-related equity awards, which the December grants continue.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details routine equity inducement grants of 39,575 stock options and 26,525 RSUs to 9 new non-executive employees at an exercise price of $48.06, vesting over four years. It continues a pattern of monthly hiring-related awards under the 2021 Inducement Plan. In context of recent clinical progress and the company’s first product approval, investors may track how ongoing equity compensation, insider activity, and future trial milestones interact with the current price level near prior highs.

Key Terms

non-qualified stock option financial

"granted non-qualified stock option awards to purchase an aggregate of 39,575 shares"

A non-qualified stock option (NSO) is a contract that lets an employee or service provider buy company shares at a fixed price for a set period, like a voucher to purchase stock later at today’s price. It matters to investors because exercising NSOs creates ordinary income for the holder and can increase share count, affecting a company’s earnings and ownership mix; think of it as a future sale that can dilute existing shareholders and has immediate tax consequences for the recipient.

restricted stock unit financial

"and granted an aggregate of 26,525 restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards"

A restricted stock unit is a promise from a company to give an employee shares of stock after certain conditions are met, like staying with the company for a set amount of time. It’s like earning a bonus that turns into company stock once you’ve proven your commitment, making it a way to motivate and reward employees.

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"under 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.

exercise price financial

"The stock options have an exercise price of $48.06 per share"

The exercise price is the fixed amount at which you can buy or sell an asset, like a stock, when using an options contract. It matters because it helps determine whether exercising the option will be profitable or not, depending on the current market price. Think of it as the set price you agree on today to buy or sell later.

vesting financial

"The shares subject to the stock options will vest over four years"

Vesting is the process by which you earn full ownership of something, like company stock or a retirement benefit, over time. It’s like earning the right to keep a gift piece by piece the longer you stay with a company, making sure employees stay committed before they receive all the benefits.

restricted stock unit (rsu) financial

"and granted an aggregate of 26,525 restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards"

A restricted stock unit (RSU) is a promise from a company to give an employee company shares (or cash equal to their value) at a future date if certain conditions are met, such as staying with the company or hitting performance targets. For investors, RSUs matter because when they convert into actual shares they increase the number of shares available and can create selling pressure as employees cash out—think of them as a future paycheck paid in company stock.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

SAN DIEGO , Dec. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRNX) today announced that on December 10, 2025, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock option awards to purchase an aggregate of 39,575 shares of its common stock and granted an aggregate of 26,525 restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards to 9 new non-executive employees, in each case, under the Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2021 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (the “2021 Inducement Plan”). The stock options and RSUs were granted as inducements material to the employees entering into employment with Crinetics in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The 2021 Inducement Plan is used exclusively for granting equity awards to individuals who were not previously employees of Crinetics, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to such individuals’ entering into employment with Crinetics, pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The stock options have an exercise price of $48.06 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Crinetics’ common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on December 10, 2025. The shares subject to the stock options will vest over four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date and the balance of the shares vesting in a series of 36 successive equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to each employee’s continued employment with Crinetics on such vesting dates. The RSUs will vest over four years in equal annual installments beginning on the one-year anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date, also subject to each employee’s continued employment with Crinetics on such vesting dates. The stock option and RSU awards are subject to the terms and conditions of the 2021 Inducement Plan and the terms and conditions of an applicable stock option award agreement or RSU award agreement covering the respective grant.

About Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals is a global pharmaceutical company committed to transforming the treatment of endocrine diseases and endocrine-related tumors through science rooted in patient needs. Crinetics is focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel therapies, with a core expertise in targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) with small molecules that have specifically tailored pharmacology and properties.

Crinetics’ lead product, PALSONIFY™ (paltusotine), is the first once-daily, oral treatment approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of adults with acromegaly who had an inadequate response to surgery and/or for whom surgery is not an option. Paltusotine is also in clinical development for carcinoid syndrome associated with neuroendocrine tumors. Crinetics’ deep pipeline of 10+ disclosed programs includes late-stage investigational candidate atumelnant, which is currently in late-stage development for congenital adrenal hyperplasia and ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome. Additional discovery programs address a variety of endocrine conditions such as neuroendocrine tumors, Graves’ disease (including Graves’ hyperthyroidism and Graves’ orbitopathy, or thyroid eye disease), polycystic kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, diabetes, obesity, and GPCR-targeted oncology indications.

Investors:
Gayathri Diwakar
Head of Investor Relations
gdiwakar@crinetics.com
(858) 345-6340

Media:
Natalie Badillo
Head of Corporate Communications
nbadillo@crinetics.com
(858) 450-6464

FAQ

What inducement grants did Crinetics (CRNX) announce on December 10, 2025?

Crinetics granted an aggregate of 39,575 non-qualified stock options and 26,525 RSUs to nine new non-executive employees on Dec. 10, 2025.

What is the exercise price of the Crinetics (CRNX) options granted Dec. 10, 2025?

The stock options have an exercise price of $48.06 per share, equal to the Nasdaq closing price on Dec. 10, 2025.

How do the Crinetics (CRNX) option awards vest?

Options vest over four years: 25% on the one-year anniversary, then monthly in 36 equal installments, subject to continued employment.

How do the Crinetics (CRNX) RSUs vest and who received them?

The RSUs vest in four equal annual installments beginning one year after the vesting commencement date and were granted to nine new non-executive employees.

Under what plan and Nasdaq rule were the Crinetics (CRNX) inducement awards granted?

Grants were made under the 2021 Inducement Plan as inducements in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).