Kazia Therapeutics Regains Full Nasdaq Listing Compliance

Rhea-AI Summary

Kazia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: KZIA) regained full compliance with all Nasdaq listing standards on Dec 18, 2025 after Nasdaq confirmed the company meets Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the $2.5 million minimum stockholders' equity alternative to MVLS).

The restoration follows a $50 million private placement led by healthcare institutional investors that the company says materially strengthened its balance sheet; the previously scheduled Nasdaq hearing was cancelled as moot and Kazia's ADS will continue trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

Positive

• $50 million private placement completed
• Regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1)
• Previously scheduled Nasdaq hearing cancelled as moot
• American Depositary Shares continue trading on Nasdaq Capital Market

Negative

• Company required a financing to restore Nasdaq compliance
• Prior noncompliance triggered a scheduled Nasdaq hearing

Key Figures

Institutional financing $50 million Recently announced private placement of equity securities

Nasdaq equity requirement $2.5 million Minimum stockholders' equity under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1)

Market Reality Check

$5.00 Last Close

Volume Volume 63,051 is below 20-day average 293,026 (relative volume 0.22), suggesting a modest participation day ahead of/around this news. low

Technical Price at $10.87 is trading above the 200-day MA of $6.97, indicating a pre-existing upward trend into this compliance update.

Peers on Argus

KZIA gained 8.92% while several biotech peers also rose modestly (e.g., MBRX 1.04%, ERNA 1.95%, MBIO 1.87%, XTLB 0.75%) and LPTX showed an outsized move of 238.84%. Scanner data still flags this as stock-specific rather than a coordinated sector move.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 10	Breast cancer data	Positive	-17.8%	Translational and early clinical paxalisib data in HER2+ and TNBC.
Dec 02	Private placement	Positive	+9.9%	Announced $50.0M PIPE financing at $5.00 per ADS-equivalent.
Nov 18	Breast cancer iCR	Positive	-5.3%	Reported initial immune-complete response in metastatic TNBC patient.
Oct 27	GBM survival update	Positive	+4.6%	Planned FDA Type C meeting on GBM OS data and pathway.
Oct 07	Licensing deal	Positive	+5.3%	Exclusive in-licensing of first-in-class PD-L1 protein degrader program.

Pattern Detected

Recent news has produced mixed reactions: several positive clinical and strategic updates saw gains, but some strong breast cancer data triggered notable selloffs.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Kazia has focused on advancing its oncology pipeline and stabilizing its listing status. On Oct 7, it in-licensed a first-in-class PD-L1 degrader program. On Oct 27, it highlighted encouraging GBM survival data and planned an FDA Type C meeting. Subsequent breast cancer data on Nov 18 and Dec 10 showcased paxalisib’s activity but drew mixed price reactions. A $50.0 million private placement on Dec 2 strengthened liquidity and underpins today’s Nasdaq compliance restoration.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved -8.0% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite restored Nasdaq compliance would fit Kazia’s history of occasional selloffs following seemingly positive clinical milestones. The company had recently strengthened its balance sheet with a $50 million private placement and moved back above its 200-day MA at $10.87, so a decline would likely reflect profit-taking or lingering concerns from past delisting risks and ongoing development and funding needs rather than this compliance update alone.

Key Terms

stockholders' equity financial

"the $2.5 million minimum stockholders' equity requirement, which serves as an"

Stockholders' equity is the portion of a company's assets that belongs to its owners after all debts and obligations are paid; think of it as the value left for shareholders if the company sold everything and paid off what it owes. Investors watch it because it shows the company's net worth, indicates how much of growth is funded by owners versus debt, and helps assess financial health and the potential for future dividends or stock value increases — like the equity in a house after the mortgage is settled.

market value of listed securities financial

"alternative to the minimum market value of listed securities ("MVLS") standard."

The market value of listed securities is the total worth of stocks, bonds and other tradable instruments quoted on an exchange, measured using the prices investors are willing to pay right now. It’s calculated by multiplying each security’s current market price by the number of units outstanding and adding those amounts together, like totaling the value of every item in a store at today’s prices. Investors watch this because it shows the size, liquidity and overall health of the market or a company’s publicly traded portion, and it influences index weights, fund allocations and perceived risk.

american depositary shares financial

"Kazia's American Depositary Shares will continue to trade on The Nasdaq"

American depositary shares (ADSs) are a way for investors in the United States to buy shares of foreign companies without dealing with international markets directly. They represent ownership in a foreign company's stock and are traded on U.S. stock exchanges, making it easier for American investors to buy, sell, and own parts of companies from around the world.

private placement financial

"follows the Company's recently announced $50 million private placement of equity"

A private placement is a way for companies to raise money by selling securities directly to a small group of investors instead of through a public offering. This process is often quicker and less regulated, making it similar to offering a special, exclusive investment opportunity to select individuals or institutions. For investors, it can provide access to unique investment options that are not available on public markets.

clinical-stage oncology medical

"Kazia, a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing innovative therapies"

Clinical-stage oncology describes a company or drug program that is actively being tested in human clinical trials for cancer treatment rather than only studied in the lab or animals. For investors it signals higher potential value but greater risk: human testing is the key stepping stone toward approval and sales, similar to a product moving from prototype to real-world testing, with trial results, timing and regulatory decisions driving share price swings.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Restoration of Nasdaq compliance follows $50 million institutional financing and reinforces balance-sheet strength

SYDNEY, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kazia Therapeutics Limited ("Kazia" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: KZIA), a clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing innovative therapies for cancer, today announced that it has regained full compliance with all applicable listing standards of Nasdaq.

On December 18, 2025, the Company received written notification from Nasdaq confirming that Kazia has regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), the $2.5 million minimum stockholders' equity requirement, which serves as an alternative to the minimum market value of listed securities ("MVLS") standard. Nasdaq further confirmed that the Company is now in compliance with all applicable Nasdaq listing requirements, that the previously scheduled hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel has been cancelled as moot, and that Kazia's American Depositary Shares will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

The restoration of full Nasdaq compliance follows the Company's recently announced $50 million private placement of equity securities, led by healthcare-dedicated institutional investors, which significantly strengthened Kazia's balance sheet and stockholders' equity position.

"This outcome reflects the progress we have made strengthening the Company's financial position," said Dr. John Friend, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Kazia. "With full Nasdaq compliance restored and a substantially enhanced balance sheet following our recent financing, we are well-positioned to focus on advancing our clinical programs and building long-term shareholder value."

Kazia believes that the restoration of Nasdaq compliance provides increased clarity for investors and enhances the Company's capital markets flexibility as it continues to advance its clinical-stage oncology pipeline, including ongoing development of paxalisib across brain cancer and advanced breast cancer indications.

For further information contact:

Alex Star
Managing Director
LifeSci Advisors LLC
Astarr@lifesciadvisors.com
Ph: +1 (201) 786-8795

About Kazia Therapeutics Limited

Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ: KZIA) is an innovative oncology-focused drug development company, based in Sydney, Australia. Our lead program is paxalisib, a brain-penetrant pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, which is being developed to treat multiple forms of brain cancer, including glioblastoma and brain metastases. A Phase 1b clinical trial is also underway evaluating paxalisib in combination with checkpoint inhibition and chemotherapy for patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer.

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, which can generally be identified as such by the use of words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "future," "forward," "anticipate," or other similar words. Any statement describing Kazia's future plans, strategies, intentions, expectations, objectives, goals or prospects, and other statements that are not historical facts, are also forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects, including the benefits of regaining Nasdaq compliance. Such statements are based on Kazia's current expectations and projections about future events and future trends affecting its business and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties: related to market and other conditions, associated with clinical and preclinical trials and product development, including the risk that preliminary or interim data may not reflect final results, related to regulatory approvals, and related to the impact of global economic conditions. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Kazia's most recent Annual Report, filed on form 20-F with the SEC, and in subsequent filings with the SEC. Kazia undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this announcement.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kazia-therapeutics-regains-full-nasdaq-listing-compliance-302647695.html

SOURCE Kazia Therapeutics Limited

FAQ

What did Kazia (KZIA) announce on Dec 22, 2025 about Nasdaq compliance?

Kazia announced it regained full Nasdaq compliance after Nasdaq confirmed it meets Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) on Dec 18, 2025.

How did Kazia (KZIA) restore Nasdaq compliance in December 2025?

The company completed a $50 million private placement of equity securities, which strengthened stockholders' equity and satisfied Nasdaq's requirement.

Will Kazia (KZIA) remain listed and trade on Nasdaq after Dec 18, 2025?

Yes. Nasdaq confirmed Kazia is in compliance and Kazia's American Depositary Shares will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

What happened to the Nasdaq hearing scheduled for Kazia (KZIA)?

Nasdaq confirmed the previously scheduled hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel was cancelled as moot after compliance was restored.

How does the Dec 2025 financing affect Kazia's (KZIA) balance sheet?

The company said the $50 million institutional financing significantly strengthened its balance sheet and stockholders' equity position.