Kura Oncology Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Kura Oncology (Nasdaq: KURA) announced that on January 2, 2026 its Compensation Committee granted inducement nonstatutory stock options to three new employees under the company’s 2023 Inducement Option Plan.

The grants total 49,750 options with an exercise price of $10.34 per share (the closing price on January 2, 2026). The options vest over four years: 25% of the shares vest on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date, with the remaining shares vesting monthly over the following 36 months, subject to continued service. Grants are subject to the plan and applicable option agreements and were approved in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Key Figures

Inducement options granted 49,750 shares Nonstatutory stock options under 2023 Inducement Option Plan

New employees 3 employees Recipients of inducement stock option awards

Option exercise price $10.34 per share Exercise price, equal to Jan 2, 2026 closing price

Vesting cliff 25% after 1 year Initial vesting of inducement stock options

Remainder vesting period 36 months Monthly vesting of remaining option shares

Prior close price $10.335 Price before inducement grant announcement

Market Reality Check

$9.97 Last Close

Volume Volume 865,689 vs 20-day average 1,660,643, indicating below-typical trading activity before this filing. low

Technical Shares traded above the 200-day MA of $7.92 with a prior close of $10.335.

Peers on Argus

Peers showed mixed moves, with changes from -4.74% (DAWN) to +2.72% (AVBP). No consistent sector direction, suggesting today’s filing is stock-specific rather than part of a broad biotech move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 08	Clinical data update	Positive	-2.6%	Reported strong KOMZIFTI triplet activity and manageable safety in AML cohorts.
Dec 03	Investor event announcement	Positive	+7.5%	Scheduled virtual event to review ASH 2025 triplet data with investors.
Dec 02	Commercial milestone	Positive	-2.7%	First U.S. KOMZIFTI sale triggered <b>$135M</b> milestone payment from Kyowa Kirin.
Nov 25	Guideline inclusion	Positive	+3.4%	KOMZIFTI added as NCCN Category 2A option for certain AML patients.
Nov 13	FDA approval	Positive	+0.0%	FDA granted full approval for KOMZIFTI in R/R NPM1‑mutated AML.

Pattern Detected

Recent fundamentally positive catalysts (approval, guideline inclusion, milestones, data) have produced a mix of positive and negative next-day moves, showing no consistent directional pattern on good news.

Recent Company History

Over the last several months, Kura reported multiple major milestones for KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib), including full FDA approval on Nov 13, 2025, addition to NCCN AML guidelines, and a $135 million commercial milestone from Kyowa Kirin after the first U.S. sale. Positive triplet-combination data at ASH 2025 and an investor event around those data further highlighted the franchise. Price reactions have alternated between gains and pullbacks, indicating that even strong clinical and commercial updates have not translated into uniformly positive short-term moves. The current inducement-option grants fit into an ongoing pattern of equity-based compensation alongside these milestones.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved -7.7% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite the routine nature of this inducement grant would fit a pattern where Kura’s shares have occasionally traded lower after positive developments. The filing details 49,750 options at an exercise price of $10.34, a modest addition under the 2023 Inducement Option Plan. Given recent net insider selling and past mixed price responses to good news, some holders may have focused on incremental dilution risk or broader biotech sentiment rather than the limited size of this award.

Key Terms

nonstatutory stock options financial

"granted inducement awards consisting of nonstatutory stock options to purchase 49,750 shares"

A nonstatutory stock option is a company-issued right that lets an employee or contractor buy shares later at a set price, but it does not qualify for special tax breaks. Think of it like a voucher to buy stock at today’s price; when used, the difference between market price and voucher price is taxed as ordinary income to the holder. Investors care because these options create potential share dilution, affect reported compensation costs, and influence employee incentives and cash flow when taxes and withholdings are settled.

Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

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

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.

exercise price financial

"Each stock option has an exercise price equal to $10.34 per share, the closing price"

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 commencement date financial

"on the one-year anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date and the balance"

The vesting commencement date is the starting point when an employee begins earning ownership rights to their promised benefits, such as stock options or retirement contributions. Think of it like the day a savings account is opened—only after this date do the benefits start to grow and become fully available over time. It matters to investors because it marks when the clock begins ticking toward full ownership, affecting the timing and value of these benefits.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kura Oncology, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: KURA), a biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, today announced that on January 2, 2026, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) granted inducement awards consisting of nonstatutory stock options to purchase 49,750 shares of common stock to three (3) new employees under the Company’s 2023 Inducement Option Plan, as amended. The Compensation Committee approved the stock options as an inducement material to such employees’ employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Each stock option has an exercise price equal to $10.34 per share, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on January 2, 2026, and will vest over four years, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date and the balance of the underlying shares vesting monthly thereafter over 36 months, subject to the new employees’ continued service relationship with the Company through the applicable vesting dates. The stock options are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2023 Inducement Option Plan, as amended, and the terms and conditions of an applicable stock option agreement covering the grant.

About Kura Oncology
Kura Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. Kura’s pipeline of small molecule drug candidates is designed to target cancer signaling pathways and address high-need hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Kura developed and is commercializing KOMZIFTI™, the FDA-approved once-daily, oral menin inhibitor for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia, and continues to pioneer advancements in menin inhibition and farnesyl transferase inhibition. For additional information, please visit the Kura website at https://kuraoncology.com/ and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

Kura Contact

Investors and Media:
Greg Mann
858-987-4046
gmann@kuraoncology.com

FAQ

What did KURA announce about inducement grants on January 5, 2026?

Kura announced that its Compensation Committee granted 49,750 nonstatutory stock options on January 2, 2026 to three new employees under the 2023 Inducement Option Plan.

How many employees received inducement options and how many shares does KURA's grant cover?

The grants were made to three new employees and cover a total of 49,750 options.

What is the exercise price and vesting schedule for KURA's January 2, 2026 option grants?

Each option has an exercise price of $10.34 (closing price on January 2, 2026) and vests over four years: 25% at one year, then monthly over 36 months, subject to continued service.

Under which plan and Nasdaq rule were KURA's inducement awards approved?

The awards were granted under the 2023 Inducement Option Plan and approved as inducements in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Are KURA's inducement options subject to additional terms or agreements?

Yes, the options are subject to the terms of the 2023 Inducement Option Plan as amended and the applicable stock option agreements.