INOVIO Reports Inducement Grant Under Inducement Plan

Rhea-AI Summary

INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO) announced an equity inducement grant under its 2022 Inducement Plan for a newly hired employee. The Compensation Committee approved an option to purchase 24,000 shares with a Grant Date of November 28, 2025.

The option has an exercise price of $2.06 (INOVIO closing price on the Grant Date) and vests over three years with one-third vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date, subject to continued employment and the terms of the stock option agreement. The award was granted in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Key Figures

Option grant size 24,000 shares Inducement stock option to newly hired employee

Exercise price $2.06 Closing price on November 28, 2025 (Grant Date)

Vesting period 3 years Option vests over three-year period from Grant Date

Annual vesting schedule One-third per year One-third vests on each of first three anniversaries

Current share price $2.37 Price before publication of inducement grant news

Market Reality Check

$2.28 Last Close

Volume Volume 2,187,123 is 1.64x the 20-day average of 1,331,779, indicating elevated trading interest before this HR-related news. high

Technical Price $2.37 is trading above the 200-day MA at $2.00, despite a -8.85% move over 24 hours and sitting 20.44% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

INO fell 8.85% while close biotech peers were mixed: MOLN +1.67%, PLX +0.56%, ACTU +2.33%, CYBN -3.01%, NKTX -1.12%, suggesting stock-specific pressure rather than a broad sector move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 18	Investor conferences	Neutral	-4.5%	Participation in December healthcare and rare disease investor conferences.
Nov 11	Equity offering priced	Negative	-7.0%	Public offering of 13,158,000 shares at $1.90 with 30-day option.
Nov 10	Equity offering proposed	Negative	+1.4%	Announcement of intended underwritten common stock offering and 30-day option.
Nov 10	Q3 2025 earnings	Negative	+1.4%	Larger net loss, warrant liability impact, liquidity runway into Q2 2026.
Nov 03	BLA completion	Positive	+6.4%	Completed rolling BLA for INO‑3107 under FDA accelerated approval program.

Pattern Detected

Recent equity offerings have often pressured the stock, but there have been positive reactions to regulatory and mixed earnings updates, indicating uneven sensitivity to capital-raising and fundamental news.

Recent Company History

Over the last two months, INOVIO has balanced financing needs with regulatory and clinical milestones. A completed rolling BLA for INO‑3107 and expectations for a potential PDUFA in mid‑2026 previously supported a 6.38% gain. However, Q3 2025 results highlighted substantial losses and going‑concern language. November underwritten offerings at $1.90 per share saw share price weakness around pricing. Today’s small inducement stock option grant fits into ongoing equity-based compensation amid this capital and regulatory backdrop.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details a standard inducement stock option grant of 24,000 shares at an exercise price of $2.06, vesting over three years under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). In the context of recent public offerings and sizable net losses, the grant is relatively small and primarily signals ongoing use of equity-based compensation. Investors may monitor future financing actions, regulatory milestones for INO‑3107, and updates on operating cash runway as key factors for the equity story.

Key Terms

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).The stock option has"

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.

stock option financial

"The stock option has an exercise price of $2.06, the closing price"

A stock option is a contract that gives you the right to buy or sell a company's stock at a specific price within a certain time frame. People use them to potentially make money if the stock's price moves favorably or to protect against losses. It's like holding a coupon that can be used to buy or sell stock at a set price later on.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Dec. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing DNA medicines to help treat and protect people from HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases, today announced that it has made an equity grant to a newly hired employee under its 2022 Inducement Plan (the "Inducement Plan").

The Compensation Committee of INOVIO's Board of Directors has approved the award of an option to purchase 24,000 shares of common stock with a grant date of November 28, 2025 (the "Grant Date"), to a newly hired employee in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The stock option has an exercise price of $2.06, the closing price of INOVIO's common stock on November 28, 2025. The stock option will vest over a three-year period, with one-third of the shares vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date. The vesting of the stock option will be subject to the employee's continued employment with INOVIO on the applicable vesting dates. This award is subject to the terms and conditions of a stock option agreement under the Inducement Plan.

About INOVIO
INOVIO is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing DNA medicines to help treat and protect people from HPV-related diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. INOVIO's technology optimizes the design and delivery of innovative DNA medicines that teach the body to manufacture its own disease-fighting tools. For more information, visit www.inovio.com.

Contacts
Media: Jennie Willson, (267) 429-8567, communications@inovio.com
Investors: Peter Vozzo - ICR Healthcare, (443) 213-0505, investor.relations@inovio.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inovio-reports-inducement-grant-under-inducement-plan-302647275.html

SOURCE INOVIO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

FAQ

What did INOVIO announce about the inducement grant on December 19, 2025?

INOVIO announced an option award to purchase 24,000 shares granted under its 2022 Inducement Plan, approved by the Compensation Committee.

What is the exercise price and grant date for INOVIO's 24,000-share option (INO)?

The option has an exercise price of $2.06, which was the closing price on the Grant Date of November 28, 2025.

How does the INOVIO stock option (INO) vest and when do shares become exercisable?

The option vests over three years with one-third of the shares vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date, subject to continued employment.

Was INOVIO's equity award granted in compliance with Nasdaq rules?

Yes. The award was granted in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) as an inducement grant for a newly hired employee.

Does the inducement grant immediately dilute INOVIO shareholders (INO)?

The announcement states the option covers 24,000 shares; any dilution depends on future exercise and outstanding share count not provided in the announcement.

What conditions govern the INOVIO stock option awarded under the Inducement Plan?

Vesting is contingent on the employee's continued employment on each applicable vesting date and the award is subject to the terms of the stock option agreement.