Cytokinetics Announces Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(C)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Cytokinetics (Nasdaq: CYTK) granted equity awards on May 15, 2026 as material inducements to 8 new employees under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

• 20,807 stock options at a $75.85 exercise price, 10-year term, vesting over 4 years
• 13,793 RSUs vesting over 3 years

News Market Reaction – CYTK

+1.69%

+1.69% Session close to close

In the May 19 session, CYTK gained 1.69%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement details standard inducement grants: 20,807 stock options and 13,793 RSUs to 8 rece...

Analysis

This announcement details standard inducement grants: 20,807 stock options and 13,793 RSUs to 8 recent hires, with options priced at $75.85 and vesting over three to four years. It follows a series of capital-raising and clinical updates in early May 2026. Investors may focus on how such equity awards affect dilution over time, alongside prior offerings and insider transactions, while monitoring execution on MYQORZO and the broader pipeline.

Key Figures

Stock option grants: 20,807 shares RSU grants: 13,793 RSUs Employees granted: 8 employees +5 more

8 metrics

Stock option grants 20,807 shares Aggregate options granted on May 15, 2026

RSU grants 13,793 RSUs Aggregate restricted stock units granted to employees

Employees granted 8 employees New hires in April and May 2026 receiving inducement awards

RSU vesting schedule 40% / 40% / 20% over 3 years Annual vesting on grant-date anniversaries

Option exercise price $75.85 per share Equal to closing price on May 15, 2026

Option vesting term 4 years 1-year cliff, then monthly vesting over 36 months

Option monthly vesting rate 1/48th per month After first anniversary of grant date

Option term 10 years Contractual life of inducement stock options

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: May 14 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
May 14	Scientific symposium	Neutral	+1.8%	Announcement of CLIMB 2026 muscle biology symposium and agenda details.
May 12	Conference participation	Neutral	+3.2%	Participation in 2026 RBC Capital Markets Global Healthcare Conference with webcast.
May 11	Clinical data update	Positive	-3.1%	New MYQORZO Phase 3 and real-world data highlighting efficacy and safety.
May 8	Equity offering closing	Positive	+3.5%	Closing of public stock offering with full underwriters’ option exercise and $805M gross proceeds.
May 6	Equity offering pricing	Neutral	-0.7%	Pricing of upsized public stock offering at $71.00 per share under an existing shelf.

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

Pattern Detected

Recent CYTK news shows mixed reactions: positive clinical data drew a selloff, while the closing of a large equity offering was met with gains, indicating investors alternately reward capital strength and fade scientific updates.

Recent Company History

Over the last two weeks, Cytokinetics issued multiple updates, including financing and scientific milestones. On May 6–8, 2026, the company priced and then closed a sizeable common stock offering around $71.00 per share, with shares reacting modestly around those events. New MYQORZO (aficamten) data on May 11, 2026 led to a negative move despite positive clinical descriptions. More routine IR items like conference participation and the CLIMB symposium saw small positive reactions. Today’s inducement grants fit within this cadence of frequent capital and corporate updates.

Key Terms

restricted stock units, RSUs, stock options, equity incentive plan, +1 more

5 terms

restricted stock units financial

"and 13,793 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will be settled in shares"

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

RSUs financial

"13,793 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will be settled in shares"

RSUs, or restricted stock units, are a form of company shares given to employees as part of their compensation. They are typically awarded with certain restrictions, such as a waiting period before they can be fully owned or sold, similar to earning a gift that becomes fully yours over time. For investors, RSUs can impact a company's stock offerings and reflect how much the company relies on stock-based incentives to attract and retain talent.

stock options financial

"it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 20,807 shares"

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.

equity incentive plan financial

"terms and conditions of the Company's Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan"

An equity incentive plan is a program that gives employees, executives or directors the right to receive company stock or options to buy stock as part of their pay. Think of it as offering slices of future company profit to motivate people to boost long‑term performance; for investors it matters because it can align employee goals with shareholder value but also increases the number of shares outstanding, which can dilute existing ownership.

Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"material inducements to employment 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.

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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced that on May 15, 2026 it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 20,807 shares of common stock and 13,793 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will be settled in shares of common stock upon vesting to 8 employees, whose employment commenced in April and May 2026 as a material inducement to their employment.

The RSUs will vest over 3 years, with 40% of the RSUs vesting on the first anniversary of the applicable grant date, an additional 40% of the RSUs vesting on the second anniversary of the grant date and the final 20% vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date, in each case, subject to each respective employee’s continued service with the Company. The stock options that were granted are subject to an exercise price of $75.85 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on May 15, 2026 and will vest over 4 years, with 1/4^th of the shares underlying the employee’s option vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remaining shares thereafter vesting in monthly installments at a rate of 1/48^th of the shares underlying such stock options over the subsequent 36 months, subject to each respective employee’s continued service with the Company. The stock options have a 10-year term. These awards are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreements pursuant to which the awards were granted.

The stock options and RSUs were granted as material inducements to employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

About Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction. Cytokinetics’ MYQORZO^® (aficamten) is a cardiac myosin inhibitor approved in the U.S., Europe and China for the treatment of adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). Following positive topline results in ACACIA-HCM, a Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten in patients with non-obstructive HCM (nHCM), the company is preparing to present the full results at an upcoming medical meeting and discuss them with the U.S. FDA and other regulatory authorities. Cytokinetics is also developing omecamtiv mecarbil, an investigational cardiac myosin activator for the potential treatment of patients with heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction and ulacamten, an investigational cardiac myosin inhibitor for the potential treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, while continuing pre-clinical research and development in muscle biology.

For additional information about Cytokinetics, visit www.cytokinetics.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Disclaimer 

Omecamtiv mecarbil and ulacamten are investigational medicines. They have not been approved nor determined to be safe or efficacious for any disease state or any indication by FDA or any other regulatory agency.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Cytokinetics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements and claims the protection of the Act's Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Cytokinetics' and its partners' research and development activities of Cytokinetics’ product candidates. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to the risks related to Cytokinetics' business outlined in Cytokinetics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission particularly under the caption “Risk Factors” in Cytokinetics’ latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and Cytokinetics' actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements that Cytokinetics makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Cytokinetics assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

CYTOKINETICS® and the CYTOKINETICS C-shaped logo are registered trademarks of Cytokinetics in the U.S. and certain other countries.

MYQORZO^® is a registered trademark of Cytokinetics in the U.S. and the European Union.

Contact:
Cytokinetics
Diane Weiser
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(415) 290-7757

FAQ

What equity inducement grants did Cytokinetics (CYTK) announce on May 18, 2026?

Cytokinetics announced stock options and RSUs granted on May 15, 2026 as material inducements to 8 new employees. According to Cytokinetics, the awards include 20,807 stock options and 13,793 restricted stock units tied to continued service.

How many stock options and RSUs did Cytokinetics (CYTK) grant as inducements in May 2026?

Cytokinetics granted 20,807 stock options and 13,793 RSUs to 8 employees whose employment began in April and May 2026. According to Cytokinetics, these equity awards are material inducements to employment under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

What are the vesting terms for the Cytokinetics (CYTK) RSU inducement grants in 2026?

The RSUs vest over three years, with 40% on the first anniversary, 40% on the second, and 20% on the third. According to Cytokinetics, vesting is conditioned on each employee’s continued service with the company during the applicable vesting periods.

What is the exercise price and term of the Cytokinetics (CYTK) inducement stock options granted May 15, 2026?

The stock options have a $75.85 exercise price and a 10-year term. According to Cytokinetics, the price equals the May 15, 2026 closing price of the common stock, with vesting over four years subject to continued service.

How do the Cytokinetics (CYTK) inducement stock options vest for new employees hired in April and May 2026?

The options vest 25% on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, then monthly over the next 36 months. According to Cytokinetics, this equals 1/48th of the shares vesting each month, contingent on continued employment.

Under what plan and Nasdaq rule were Cytokinetics (CYTK) May 2026 inducement awards granted?

The awards were granted under the company’s Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan in line with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). According to Cytokinetics, these stock options and RSUs are classified as material inducements to employment.