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

Rhea-AI Summary

Iovance Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: IOVA) approved inducement stock option grants on January 15, 2026 covering an aggregate of 97,710 shares to 17 new non-executive employees under the Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan.

Each option has an exercise price of $2.22 (the closing price on the Date of Grant) and vests over three years: one-third on the first anniversary of each employee’s start date and the remainder in eight quarterly installments over the following two years, subject to continued employment.

Key Figures

Inducement options granted: 97,710 shares New employees: 17 employees Option exercise price: $2.22 +4 more

7 metrics

Inducement options granted 97,710 shares Aggregate stock options to 17 new non-executive employees on Jan 15, 2026

New employees 17 employees Recipients of inducement stock options on the Date of Grant

Option exercise price $2.22 Closing price of Iovance common stock on Jan 15, 2026 (Date of Grant)

Plan adoption date September 22, 2021 Original adoption of Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan

Plan amendment dates Jan 12 2022; Mar 13 2023; Feb 26 2024; Nov 22 2024 Subsequent amendments and restatements of the inducement plan

Vesting period 3 years One-third at first anniversary, remainder in eight quarterly installments

Quarterly installments 8 installments Over two years following the first vesting date, subject to employment

Market Reality Check

Price: $2.36 Vol: Volume 23,283,619 vs 20-d...

high vol

$2.36 Last Close

Volume Volume 23,283,619 vs 20-day average 12,535,079, indicating elevated trading activity before this HR-focused news. high

Technical Shares traded at $2.36, slightly below the $2.39 200-day MA, and well below the $6.50 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

IOVA was down 6.72% while several biotech peers also traded lower (e.g., EYPT, S...

IOVA was down 6.72% while several biotech peers also traded lower (e.g., EYPT, SANA, IMNM, URGN), but NKTR gained, and no peers appeared in the momentum scanner, pointing to stock-specific dynamics rather than a clean sector rotation.

Common Catalyst Both IOVA and EYPT reported inducement grants under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), suggesting routine HR- and compensation-related news flow among biotech peers.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 19 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 19	Inducement grants	Neutral	+12.1%	Announced 43,150-share inducement stock options to four new employees.
Nov 21	Inducement grants	Neutral	+11.6%	Approved 164,900 inducement options for 11 new non-executive employees.
Nov 06	Earnings and update	Positive	+27.6%	Q3 2025 revenue growth, guidance reaffirmation, and pipeline/commercial updates.
Nov 03	Clinical data	Positive	-1.0%	Reported favorable Phase 2 lifileucel data in advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.
Oct 23	Earnings scheduling	Neutral	+2.7%	Announced date and webcast details for Q3 2025 results and updates.

Pattern Detected

Recent history shows predominantly positive price reactions to corporate updates, including prior inducement grant announcements and earnings, with one negative reaction to strong clinical data.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Iovance has combined routine HR-related equity awards with major clinical and financial milestones. Prior inducement grant announcements on Nov 21, 2025 and Dec 19, 2025 both saw double‑digit percentage gains within 24 hours. Earnings on Nov 6, 2025 highlighted growing Amtagvi and Proleukin revenue and drove a strong positive move. Clinical data for lifileucel in NSCLC on Nov 3, 2025 produced a modest decline despite favorable efficacy metrics. Today’s inducement grants fit the ongoing pattern of using equity to attract non‑executive talent.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details inducement stock options for 97,710 shares granted to 17 new non‑executive...

Analysis

This announcement details inducement stock options for 97,710 shares granted to 17 new non‑executive employees under Iovance’s Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan, with a $2.22 exercise price and three‑year vesting. It continues a series of similar grants used to attract and retain talent. In context of earlier financial reports showing substantial operating losses and ongoing pipeline development, investors may monitor cumulative equity awards, future earnings updates, and additional clinical milestones for their impact on long-term shareholder value.

Key Terms

tumor infiltrating lymphocyte, inducement stock options, nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4)

3 terms

tumor infiltrating lymphocyte medical

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

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.

inducement stock options financial

"approved the grant of inducement stock options covering an aggregate of 97,710 shares"

Inducement stock options are grants of the company’s stock rights given to recruit or retain a specific executive or employee, often as a signing bonus instead of cash. Investors care because these awards can increase the total shares outstanding and dilute existing ownership, alter future reported expenses, and signal how the company is paying for talent; think of them as a hiring incentive paid in future company pieces rather than immediate money.

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. Not financial advice.

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Jan. 16, 2026 (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 January 15, 2026 (the “Date of Grant”), the Company approved the grant of inducement stock options covering an aggregate of 97,710 shares of Iovance’s common stock to 17 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 $2.22, 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

What did Iovance (IOVA) announce about inducement stock option grants on January 15, 2026?

Iovance granted inducement stock options for an aggregate of 97,710 shares to 17 new non-executive employees under its 2021 Inducement Plan.

What is the exercise price of the Iovance (IOVA) inducement options granted on January 15, 2026?

Each option has an exercise price of $2.22, equal to the closing price of Iovance common stock on the Date of Grant.

How do the Iovance (IOVA) inducement stock options vest?

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

Under which plan were the Iovance (IOVA) inducement awards granted?

The awards were issued under the Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan, as amended, and approved by the compensation committee under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

How many employees received inducement option grants from Iovance (IOVA) on January 15, 2026?

17 new, non-executive employees received inducement stock option grants totaling 97,710 shares.

Where can investors find the vesting start date for an individual Iovance (IOVA) inducement grant?

The First Vesting Date for each grant is the first anniversary of that employee’s start date, with subsequent quarterly vesting over the next two years.