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

Rhea-AI Summary

Cytokinetics (Nasdaq: CYTK) granted inducement equity awards on June 15, 2026 under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) to 12 recent hires. Awards include stock options for 24,784 shares at $71.38, 16,429 RSUs, and 2,242 PSUs.

Options vest over 4 years with a 10-year term; RSUs vest over 3 years; PSUs are tied to two performance goals and time-based vesting, all subject to continued service and the company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.

Argus Jun 18 session

+0.86% close to close 1.9x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – CYTK

On Jun 18, the first trading day after this news, CYTK closed 0.86% above the previous close. That session’s volume was 1.9x the stock’s average daily volume.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Jun 18 session.

Key Figures

Inducement stock options: 24,784 shares Inducement RSUs: 16,429 RSUs Inducement PSUs: 2,242 PSUs +5 more

Inducement stock options

24,784 shares

Stock options granted June 15, 2026 as inducement awards

Inducement RSUs

16,429 RSUs

Restricted stock units granted to new employees

Inducement PSUs

2,242 PSUs

Performance stock units tied to two performance goals

Employees receiving awards

12 employees

New hires in May and June 2026 receiving inducement equity

Option exercise price

$71.38 per share

Equal to CYTK closing price on June 15, 2026

RSU vesting period

3 years

40%/40%/20% vesting on first, second, third anniversaries

Option vesting period

4 years

25% after one year, remainder monthly over 36 months

Option term

10 years

Contractual term of inducement stock options

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jun 08

5 events

1. Jun 08

   Corporate giving program

   24h Move

   -2.7%

   Announced 2026 corporate giving grants for health equity and education.

2. Jun 01

   Drug launch EU

   24h Move

   -4.0%

   Launched MYQORZO in Germany following EC approval and positive Phase 3 data.

3. May 27

   Conference participation

   24h Move

   -0.4%

   Management scheduled for fireside chats at major June healthcare conferences.

4. May 20

   Annual meeting notice

   24h Move

   -0.9%

   Announced date and details for 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

5. May 18

   Inducement equity grants

   24h Move

   +1.7%

   Granted stock options and RSUs as inducements for 8 new employees.

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

Key Terms

stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), performance stock units (PSUs), exercise price, +2 more

6 terms

stock options financial

"it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 24,784 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.

restricted stock units (RSUs) financial

"and 16,429 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will be settled in shares"

Restricted stock units (RSUs) are a type of company promise to give employees shares of stock in the future, usually after certain conditions like working for a set time. They are like a gift promised today that you receive later, which can become valuable if the company's stock price goes up. RSUs matter because they are a way companies reward employees and can be a significant part of compensation.

performance stock units (PSUs) financial

"and 2,242 performance stock units (PSUs) that, if earned, will be settled"

Performance stock units (PSUs) are a form of executive or employee pay that promise company shares only if pre-set performance goals are met over a defined period; think of them as a bonus paid in stock that arrives only when the company hits agreed targets. Investors watch PSUs because they affect the number of shares outstanding (dilution) and reveal how management’s pay is tied to financial or operational results, aligning incentives with shareholder outcomes.

exercise price financial

"subject to an exercise price of $71.38 per share, which is equal"

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.

Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"inducement 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.

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.

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

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SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced that on June 15, 2026 it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 24,784 shares of common stock and 16,429 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will be settled in shares of common stock upon vesting and 2,242 performance stock units (PSUs) that, if earned, will be settled in shares of common stock upon vesting to 12 employees, whose employment commenced in May and June, 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 $71.38 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on June 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 1/48th 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. The PSU award is subject to two performance goals and will be earned as to up to 50% of the number of shares subject to the PSU award upon the certification by Compensation and Talent Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (Committee) that the Company has achieved the first performance goal and as to up to 50% of the number of shares subject to the PSU award upon the certification by the Committee that the Company has achieved the second performance goal. The earned shares will vest as to 50% of the earned shares on applicable Committee certification date and as to 50% of the earned shares following the one-year anniversary of the applicable Committee certification date, subject to the respective employee’s continued service with the Company. 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, RSUs and PSUs 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 (415) 290-7757

FAQ

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

What inducement equity grants did Cytokinetics (NASDAQ: CYTK) announce on June 17, 2026?

Cytokinetics announced stock option, RSU, and PSU inducement grants to 12 new employees. According to Cytokinetics, awards cover 24,784 option shares, 16,429 RSUs, and 2,242 PSUs, granted under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as material inducements to employment.

How many stock options and RSUs did Cytokinetics (CYTK) grant as inducement awards in June 2026?

Cytokinetics granted options for 24,784 shares and 16,429 RSUs as inducement awards. According to Cytokinetics, these equity grants were made on June 15, 2026 to 12 employees whose employment began in May and June 2026, subject to service-based vesting schedules.

What are the vesting terms for Cytokinetics (CYTK) RSU inducement grants from June 15, 2026?

The RSU inducement grants vest over three years with tiered annual vesting. According to Cytokinetics, 40% vests on the first anniversary, 40% on the second, and 20% on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to each employee’s continued service with the company.

What is the exercise price and term of Cytokinetics (CYTK) inducement stock options granted in June 2026?

The inducement stock options have a $71.38 exercise price and a 10-year term. According to Cytokinetics, the price equals the June 15, 2026 closing stock price, and options vest 25% after one year, then monthly over 36 months, subject to continued service.

How do Cytokinetics (CYTK) performance stock units (PSUs) from June 2026 vest and depend on performance?

The PSUs are earned based on two performance goals and time-based vesting. According to Cytokinetics, up to 50% is earned for each goal, with 50% of earned shares vesting at Committee certification and 50% one year later, subject to continued employment.

Under which plan and Nasdaq rule were the new Cytokinetics (CYTK) inducement awards granted?

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