Nektar Therapeutics Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

A September amendment increased shares reserved under the inducement plan by 250,000 to a total of 500,000.

Rhea-AI Summary

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) granted equity awards to newly hired employees on October 20, 2026, under its inducement plan. Sixteen employees received options to purchase 45,750 common shares and 2,775 restricted stock units (RSUs). The options have a $39.22 exercise price, equal to the closing share price on the grant date, and an eight-year term.

Both award types vest over four years, subject to continued employment. The grants fall under the amended 2025 Inducement Plan and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), which permits equity awards intended to induce eligible individuals to join the company.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Employee options covering 45,750 shares at $39.22 create potential dilution upon exercise.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Employee grants of 2,775 RSUs create potential dilution as awards vest.
• Minor point. Forward-looking: it has not happened yet and may not happen.Inducement plan shares reserved increased by 250,000 to 500,000, expanding capacity for future equity issuance.

News Explained

Nektar separately increased its inducement-plan reserve by 250,000 shares, to 500,000, adding shares available for issuance under the plan; this expands potential award capacity but does not make the full reserve a current grant.

Key Figures

Stock options granted: 45,750 shares Restricted stock units granted: 2,775 RSUs Option exercise price: $39.22 per share +3 more

Stock options granted

45,750 shares

Granted to newly hired employees

Restricted stock units granted

2,775 RSUs

Granted to newly hired employees

Option exercise price

$39.22 per share

Equal to the October 20, 2026 closing price

Inducement plan share increase

250,000 shares

Increased plan capacity to 500,000 shares

Option term

8 years

Stock options

Vesting period

4 years

Stock options and RSUs, subject to continued employment

Historical Context

1 past event · Latest: Sep 25

1 event

1. Sep 25

   Inducement grants

   24h Move

   +5.8%

   Earlier awards under the same plan covered 11 hires, with 58,600 options and 2,450 RSUs.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units, nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4)

3 terms

non-qualified stock options financial

"granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 45,750 shares"

Non-qualified stock options are a type of employee benefit that gives individuals the right to buy company shares at a set price, usually lower than the market value, within a certain period. Unlike other options that may have special tax advantages, these options are taxed as income when exercised, which can affect how much money the employee or investor ultimately gains. They are important because they can influence company compensation strategies and impact the financial outcomes for employees and investors.

restricted stock units financial

"and 2,775 restricted stock units (RSUs) to sixteen newly-hired employees"

Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"as an inducement material to such individual's entering into employment with Nektar"

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. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) today announced that, on October 20, 2026, the Organization and Compensation Committee of Nektar's Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 45,750 shares of its common stock and 2,775 restricted stock units (RSUs) to sixteen newly-hired employees under Nektar's 2025 Inducement Plan, as amended.

Nektar's 2025 Inducement Plan was adopted by its Board of Directors on November 6, 2025 and amended on September 23, 2026 to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the plan by 250,000 shares, for a total of 500,000 shares. The plan is used exclusively for the grant of equity awards to individuals who were not previously an employee or non-employee director of Nektar (or following a bona fide period of non‑employment), as an inducement material to such individual's entering into employment with Nektar, pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The stock options have an exercise price per share equal to $39.22, which is equal to the closing price of Nektar's common stock on October 20, 2026. The stock options have an eight-year term and will vest over four years with 1/4th of the shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the employee's grant date and 1/48th of the shares vesting monthly thereafter over the next three years, subject to each employee's continued employment with Nektar on such vesting dates. The RSUs vest over four years with 1/4th of the shares vesting following the one-year anniversary of the employee's grant date and 1/16th of the shares vesting quarterly thereafter over the next three years, subject to each employee's continued employment with Nektar on the applicable vesting dates. The stock options and RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of Nektar's 2025 Inducement Plan, as amended, and the terms and conditions of the stock option and RSU agreement covering the grant.

About Nektar Therapeutics

Nektar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments that address the underlying immunological dysfunction in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Nektar's lead product candidate, rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG, or NKTR-358), is a novel, first-in-class regulatory T cell stimulator being evaluated in atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, and Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Nektar's pipeline also includes preclinical bivalent tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (TNFR2) antibody and bispecific programs, NKTR-0165 and NKTR-0166, and a modified hematopoietic colony stimulating factor (CSF) protein, NKTR-422.

Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For further information, visit www.nektar.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: "will", "can," "develop," "potential," "expand," "address," "may," "plan" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the safety and efficacy profile and therapeutic potential of, and future development plans for, rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166, and NKTR-422, and potential patient preferences and market adoption related thereto, and plans and timing of future clinical trials and data releases. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) our statements regarding the therapeutic potential of rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166 and NKTR-422 are based on preclinical and clinical findings and observations and are subject to change as research and development continue; (ii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166 and NKTR-422 are investigational agents and continued research and development for these drug candidates is subject to substantial risks, including negative safety and efficacy findings in future clinical studies (notwithstanding positive findings in earlier preclinical and clinical studies); (iii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166 and NKTR-422 are in various stages of preclinical and clinical development, the risk of failure is high and can unexpectedly occur at any stage of development, and there can be no assurance that any such drug candidate will obtain regulatory approval; (iv) data reported from ongoing clinical trials may be preliminary or interim and may change as additional patient data become available or as continuing observations, verifications and analysis are completed; (v) the timing of the initiation or completion of clinical trials and the availability of clinical data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to regulatory delays, slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial design, clinical outcomes, competitive factors, or delay or failure in ultimately obtaining regulatory approval in one or more important markets; (vi) a Fast Track designation does not increase the likelihood that rezpegaldesleukin will receive marketing approval in the United States; (vii) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our drug candidates, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required; and (viii) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report, as such risks and uncertainties may be amended or supplemented by our other filings with the SEC . Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contacts

For Investors:

Vivian Wu
628-895-0661
VWu@nektar.com 

Corey Davis, Ph.D.
LifeSci Advisors
212-915-2577
cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com 

For Media:

Susan Roberts
LifeSci Communications
202-779-0929
sroberts@lifescicomms.com

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SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What equity awards did Nektar Therapeutics grant on October 20, 2026?

Nektar granted sixteen newly hired employees options to purchase 45,750 common shares and 2,775 RSUs. The options carry a $39.22 exercise price, equal to the closing stock price on the grant date, and an eight-year term.

How do Nektar Therapeutics' October 2026 employee equity grants vest?

Both award types vest over four years, subject to continued employment on the applicable vesting dates. Options vest 1/4th on the grant date's one-year anniversary and 1/48th monthly over the next three years. RSUs vest 1/4th following the one-year anniversary and 1/16th quarterly over the next three years.