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

Rhea-AI Summary

Iovance Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ: IOVA) approved inducement stock options covering 3,400 shares to one new non-executive employee, granted on March 19, 2026 under the Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan.

The options carry an exercise price of $3.87 (closing price on the Date of Grant) and vest over three years: one-third at the first anniversary of employment, then eight quarterly installments over the following two years, subject to continued employment.

Key Figures

Inducement options granted: 3,400 shares Exercise price: $3.87 Vesting period: 3 years +4 more

7 metrics

Inducement options granted 3,400 shares Inducement stock options to one new non-executive employee on March 19, 2026

Exercise price $3.87 Exercise price equals closing price on the March 19, 2026 grant date

Vesting period 3 years Stock options vest over three years, time-based schedule

Initial vesting tranche One-third One-third of shares vest on first anniversary of employee’s start date

Remaining vesting installments 8 quarterly installments Remaining options vest over eight quarters following first vesting date

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 to the inducement plan

Market Reality Check

Price: $3.87 Vol: Volume 22,581,038 is roug...

normal vol

$3.87 Last Close

Volume Volume 22,581,038 is roughly in line with the 20-day average of 23,088,587 (relative 0.98x). normal

Technical Shares at $3.69 are trading above the 200-day MA of $2.52 and about 34.46% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

IOVA rose 2.65% while key biotech peers like SANA, IMNM, EYPT, NKTR, and URGN we...

IOVA rose 2.65% while key biotech peers like SANA, IMNM, EYPT, NKTR, and URGN were down between about 1.89% and 5.42%, indicating stock-specific strength rather than a sector-wide move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 26 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 26	Conference participation	Neutral	-1.0%	Management presentations at two March 2026 healthcare investor conferences.
Feb 24	Clinical trial update	Positive	+30.8%	Positive early lifileucel data in soft tissue sarcomas with 50% ORR.
Feb 24	Earnings and updates	Positive	+30.8%	Strong Q4 and 2025 revenue, margin improvement, and pipeline progress.
Feb 20	Inducement grants	Neutral	+0.7%	Inducement stock options for two new employees under the 2021 plan.
Feb 11	Earnings date notice	Neutral	-3.1%	Announcement of timing for Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings release.

Pattern Detected

The stock reacted strongly to major clinical and earnings updates, while routine items like conference notices and inducement grants saw modest or limited moves.

Recent Company History

Recent news shows Iovance alternating between major value-driving events and routine updates. On Feb 24, 2026, positive lifileucel sarcoma data and strong Q4 2025 results each coincided with a 30.8% gain. Earlier and later items—conference participation, prior small inducement grants, and the earnings date notice—had modest single-digit moves. Today’s small inducement option grant for 3,400 shares under the inducement plan fits the pattern of routine corporate housekeeping alongside a backdrop of more impactful recent clinical and commercial milestones.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details a small inducement grant of 3,400 stock options at an exercise price of $3...

Analysis

This announcement details a small inducement grant of 3,400 stock options at an exercise price of $3.87 for a new non-executive employee under the 2021 Inducement Plan. The options vest over three years, with one-third after the first year and the balance in eight quarterly installments, tying compensation to retention. In the context of Iovance’s recent major clinical and earnings milestones, this filing reads as routine corporate housekeeping rather than a fundamental change in outlook.

Key Terms

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

3 terms

inducement stock options financial

"approved the grant of inducement stock options covering an aggregate of 3,400 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.

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.

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). Each of the stock options"

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., March 20, 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 March 19, 2026 (the “Date of Grant”), the Company approved the grant of inducement stock options covering an aggregate of 3,400 shares of Iovance’s common stock to one new, non-executive employee.

The award was 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 $3.87, 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) grant on March 19, 2026?

Iovance granted inducement stock options for 3,400 shares to one new non-executive employee. According to Iovance, the award was made under its Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

What is the exercise price of the IOVA inducement options granted March 19, 2026?

The exercise price for the inducement stock options is $3.87 per share. According to Iovance, $3.87 equals the closing price of Iovance common stock on the Date of Grant.

How do the IOV A stock options vest for the new employee?

The options vest over a three-year schedule: one-third at the first employment anniversary, then eight quarterly installments. According to Iovance, the remaining shares vest quarterly over two years, subject to continued employment through each vesting date.

Under which plan were the IOVA inducement options granted?

The award was granted under the Amended and Restated 2021 Inducement Plan. According to Iovance, the plan was adopted September 22, 2021 and has been amended and restated multiple times through November 22, 2024.

Does the Iovance inducement grant comply with Nasdaq rules for IOVA?

Yes. The inducement grant was made in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). According to Iovance, the company’s compensation committee approved the award under that Nasdaq exception for new hire equity inducements.

Will the Iovance (IOVA) inducement grant dilute existing shareholders materially?

The press release discloses an award of 3,400 shares to one employee but gives no total share count to assess dilution. According to Iovance, only the grant size and terms are disclosed, not companywide share totals for dilution calculation.