Iovance Biotherapeutics Reports Inducement Grants under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Iovance Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: IOVA) announced on Dec 18, 2025 inducement stock option grants covering an aggregate of 43,150 shares to four new non-executive employees under its Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan.

Each option has an exercise price of $2.46 (the closing price on the Date of Grant) and vests over three years: one-third at the first anniversary of each employee’s start date, then the remainder in eight quarterly installments over the following two years, subject to continued employment.

Key Figures

Inducement options 43,150 shares Aggregate stock options granted to new employees

New employees 4 employees Non-executive hires receiving inducement grants

Exercise price $2.46 Closing price on December 18, 2025 (Date of Grant)

Vesting period 3 years Overall vesting duration for the stock options

Initial vesting One-third after 1 year First vesting on anniversary of employee start date

Subsequent tranches 8 quarterly installments Remaining vesting over following two years

Date of Grant December 18, 2025 Grant date for inducement stock options

Plan adoption date September 22, 2021 Original adoption of 2021 Inducement Plan

Market Reality Check

$2.48 Last Close

Volume Trading volume 26,291,143 shares versus 20-day average of 10,258,351, indicating elevated activity before this update. high

Technical Shares were trading below the 200-day MA of $2.48, reflecting a pressured longer-term trend.

Peers on Argus

IOVA was down 2.38% while peers showed mixed moves: SANA -3.96%, but IMNM +3.52%, EYPT +1.93%, NKTR +6.21%, and URGN +4.11%, suggesting stock-specific dynamics rather than a unified sector move.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details routine inducement grants of 43,150 stock options at an exercise price of $2.46 to four new non-executive employees under the company’s inducement plan. The three-year vesting structure, with one-third after one year and the remainder in eight quarterly installments, highlights a focus on longer-term retention. Investors may track how such hiring and equity incentives support progress in the company’s TIL therapy programs and overall execution.

Key Terms

tumor infiltrating lymphocyte medical

"delivering novel polyclonal tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (“TIL”) therapies for patients"

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) is an immune cell found inside a tumor that can recognize and attack cancer cells; researchers can extract and multiply these patient-derived cells to use as a personalized therapy. Investors watch TILs because therapies built from them offer a targeted, individualized approach—like retraining a patient’s own soldiers to fight a specific enemy—which can influence clinical trial outcomes, regulatory decisions, and the commercial value of biotech companies.

stock options financial

"approved the grant of inducement stock options covering an aggregate of 43,150 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.

exercise price financial

"Each of the stock options granted ... has an exercise price of $2.46"

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

"Each stock option vests over a three-year period, with one-third of the shares vesting"

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.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Dec. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA) ("Iovance" or the “Company”), a biotechnology company focused on innovating, developing, and delivering novel polyclonal tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (“TIL”) therapies for patients with cancer, today announced that on December 18, 2025 (the “Date of Grant”), the Company approved the grant of inducement stock options covering an aggregate of 43,150 shares of Iovance’s common stock to four new, non-executive employees.

The awards were granted under Iovance’s Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan, which was adopted on September 22, 2021 and amended and restated on January 12, 2022, March 13, 2023, February 26, 2024, and November 22, 2024, and provides for the granting of equity awards to new employees of Iovance by the Company’s compensation committee in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). Each of the stock options granted as referenced in this press release has an exercise price of $2.46, the closing price of Iovance’s common stock on the Date of Grant. Each stock option vests over a three-year period, with one-third of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of the employee’s start date (the “First Vesting Date”) and the remaining shares vesting in eight quarterly installments over the next two years, commencing with the first quarter following the First Vesting Date, subject to continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting dates.

About Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. aims to be the global leader in innovating, developing, and delivering tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (“TIL”) therapies for patients with cancer. We are pioneering a transformational approach to cure cancer by harnessing the human immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy diverse cancer cells in each patient. The Iovance TIL platform has demonstrated promising clinical data across multiple solid tumors. Iovance’s Amtagvi^® is the first FDA-approved T cell therapy for a solid tumor indication. We are committed to continuous innovation in cell therapy, including gene-edited cell therapy, that may extend and improve life for patients with cancer. For more information, please visit www.iovance.com.

Amtagvi^® and its accompanying design marks, Proleukin^®, Iovance^®, and IovanceCares™ are trademarks and registered trademarks of Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements” of Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). Without limiting the foregoing, we may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “may,” “can,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should,” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and assessments made in light of management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments, and other factors believed to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no duty to update or revise any such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, achievements, and developments to be materially different from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments, and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are described in the sections titled "Risk Factors" in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

CONTACTS

Investors
IR@iovance.com
650-260-7120 ext. 150

Media
PR@iovance.com
650-260-7120 ext. 150

FAQ

How many shares did Iovance (NASDAQ: IOVA) grant in inducement options on Dec 18, 2025?

Iovance granted inducement stock options covering an aggregate of 43,150 shares to four new non-executive employees.

What is the exercise price for the Iovance inducement options granted Dec 18, 2025 (IOVA)?

Each stock option has an exercise price of $2.46, the closing price of Iovance common stock on the Date of Grant.

What is the vesting schedule for the Iovance (IOVA) inducement options granted Dec 18, 2025?

Options vest over three years: one-third on the employee’s first anniversary and the remainder in eight quarterly installments over the next two years, subject to continued employment.

Under which plan were the Iovance inducement options granted on Dec 18, 2025 (IOVA)?

The awards were granted under Iovance’s Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan adopted Sept 22, 2021 and amended on several dates through Nov 22, 2024.

Why did Iovance (IOVA) use inducement awards for new hires on Dec 18, 2025?

The company approved the inducement awards to grant equity to new employees in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).