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

Rhea-AI Summary

Cytokinetics (Nasdaq: CYTK) granted inducement equity awards on July 15, 2026 under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) to 10 new employees. The awards include stock options for 21,220 shares at an exercise price of $82.62 and 14,067 RSUs, with multi‑year vesting schedules.

Market Context

A prior inducement-grant announcement, news_id 1072027, was followed by a 0.09% 24-hour reaction. Th...

Analysis

A prior inducement-grant announcement, news_id 1072027, was followed by a 0.09% 24-hour reaction. That history frames this award update as routine, while Net Selling remains a relevant risk factor to monitor.

Key Figures

Stock options granted: 21,220 shares RSUs granted: 14,067 RSUs Employees receiving awards: 10 employees +5 more

8 metrics

Stock options granted 21,220 shares Granted to employees on July 15, 2026

RSUs granted 14,067 RSUs Settled in common shares upon vesting

Employees receiving awards 10 employees Employees whose employment commenced in June and July 2026

RSU vesting period 3 years Subject to continued employee service

RSU vesting schedule 40% / 40% / 20% Vesting on the first, second, and third anniversaries

Option exercise price $82.62 per share Equal to the July 15, 2026 closing price

Option vesting period 4 years One-quarter vests after one year, with monthly vesting thereafter

Option term 10 years Term of the granted stock options

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 07 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Jul 07	ESC abstract announcement	Neutral	-0.0%	Announced three late-breaking science abstracts and an upcoming Phase 3 data presentation.
Jun 17	Inducement grant announcement	Neutral	+0.1%	Granted inducement options, RSUs, and PSUs to twelve recent hires.
Jun 08	Corporate giving program	Neutral	-2.7%	Opened its annual giving program with donations of up to $20,000 per organization.
Jun 01	European product launch	Positive	-4.0%	Launched MYQORZO in Germany following European Commission approval.
May 27	Investor conference participation	Neutral	-0.4%	Announced management participation in two June healthcare investor conferences.

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

Pattern Detected

Recent history showed near-flat reactions to routine corporate notices, while the positive MYQORZO launch announcement was followed by a negative reaction.

Key Terms

restricted stock units, stock options, nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4)

3 terms

restricted stock units financial

"and 14,067 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.

stock options financial

"it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 21,220 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.

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.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced that on July 15, 2026 it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 21,220 shares of common stock and 14,067 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will be settled in shares of common stock upon vesting to 10 employees, whose employment commenced in June and July 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 $82.62 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on July 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 plans to discuss the results 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 inducement equity grants did Cytokinetics (CYTK) announce on July 17, 2026?

Cytokinetics announced stock options for 21,220 shares and 14,067 RSUs granted on July 15, 2026. According to Cytokinetics, these equity awards were issued to 10 new employees as material inducements to employment under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

What is the exercise price and term of the new Cytokinetics (CYTK) stock options?

The new Cytokinetics stock options have an exercise price of $82.62 per share and a 10-year term. According to Cytokinetics, the exercise price equals the July 15, 2026 closing price of its common stock on Nasdaq.

How do the Cytokinetics (CYTK) RSU inducement awards vest for new employees?

The Cytokinetics RSUs vest over three years with a 40%/40%/20% schedule. According to Cytokinetics, 40% vest on each of the first and second anniversaries of the grant date and 20% on the third, subject to continued service.

What is the vesting schedule for Cytokinetics (CYTK) inducement stock options granted in July 2026?

The inducement stock options vest over four years. According to Cytokinetics, 25% vest on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% vest in equal monthly installments over the following 36 months, contingent on continued service.

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

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