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

Rhea-AI Summary

Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) reported that on July 20, 2026, its Organization and Compensation Committee granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 36,000 shares of common stock to 23 newly hired employees under its 2025 Inducement Plan, adopted on November 6, 2025 and used solely for Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) inducement awards.

The options have an exercise price of $64.84, matching the July 20, 2026 closing price, an eight-year term, and vest over four years, subject to continued employment. Nektar is a clinical-stage biotechnology company whose lead candidate, rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG, NKTR-358), is in a registrational program for atopic dermatitis and other immune-related indications.

News Explained

The July 20, 2026 grant gives 23 new employees options to purchase 36,000 common shares; it describes a potential later change in the share base, not a present issuance, and the vesting conditions mean that change is not complete.

Market Context

The platform recorded Net Selling across 8 insider transactions, adding context to this employee equ...

Analysis

The platform recorded Net Selling across 8 insider transactions, adding context to this employee equity announcement. The relevant risk is ongoing insider selling; subsequent filings and grant activity warrant monitoring.

Key Figures

Options granted: 36,000 shares Recipients: 23 employees Exercise price: $64.84 per share +4 more

7 metrics

Options granted 36,000 shares Aggregate grant to newly hired employees

Recipients 23 employees Newly hired employees under the inducement plan

Exercise price $64.84 per share Equal to the July 20, 2026 closing price

Option term Eight years Term of the stock options

Vesting period Four years Subject to continued employment

Initial vesting 1/4 of shares Vests on the one-year anniversary of the grant date

Monthly vesting 1/48 of shares Vests monthly over the following three years

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 21 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Jul 21	Phase 3 trial start	Positive	+5.9%	Initiated two global registrational Phase 3 atopic dermatitis trials
Jun 26	Inducement equity grants	Neutral	+2.7%	Granted options and RSUs to seven newly hired employees
Jun 03	Inducement equity grants	Neutral	+0.1%	Granted stock options to five newly hired employees
May 27	Healthcare conference participation	Neutral	-0.6%	Scheduled management fireside chat at Jefferies healthcare conference
May 07	First-quarter earnings	Negative	-1.8%	Reported quarterly loss, operating costs, and upcoming clinical milestones

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

Pattern Detected

NKTR's prior neutral corporate announcements produced mixed reactions, while clinical news generated the strongest positive move in the available history.

Key Terms

non-qualified stock options, nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4), registrational program, bivalent

4 terms

non-qualified stock options financial

"granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 36,000 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.

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

"pursuant to 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.

registrational program medical

"being evaluated in a registrational program in atopic dermatitis"

A registrational program is the set of late-stage clinical studies and regulatory steps designed to show that a drug or medical product is safe and effective enough to win formal approval from health authorities. Think of it like the final licensing exams a product must pass before it can be sold widely; investors watch these programs closely because successful results clear the way to market access, revenue potential, and lower regulatory risk, while failures can halt commercial plans.

bivalent technical

"pipeline also includes preclinical bivalent tumor necrosis factor receptor"

A bivalent product, when used in medical and regulatory contexts, is designed to target two distinct strains or types of a pathogen at once—like a locksmith carrying two keys instead of one. For investors, bivalent approvals or sales matter because they can broaden market demand, affect regulatory reviews, and change competitive positioning, similar to a company offering a product that meets two different customer needs simultaneously.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) today announced that, on July 20, 2026, the Organization and Compensation Committee of Nektar's Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 36,000 shares of its common stock to twenty-three newly-hired employees under Nektar's 2025 Inducement Plan.

Nektar's 2025 Inducement Plan was adopted by its Board of Directors on November 6, 2025 and 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 $64.84, which is equal to the closing price of Nektar's common stock on July 20, 2026. The stock options have an eight-year term and will vest over four years with 1/4^th of the shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the employee's grant date and 1/48^th 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 stock options are subject to the terms and conditions of Nektar's 2025 Inducement Plan, and the terms and conditions of the stock option 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 a registrational program in atopic dermatitis, being planned for a registrational program in alopecia areata, and being evaluated in one Phase 2 clinical trial in 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: "could," "develop," "evaluate," "address," "may" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the therapeutic potential of, and future development plans for, rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-0165, NKTR-0166 and NKTR-422. 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 clinical or preclinical development and the risk of failure is high and can unexpectedly occur at any stage prior to regulatory approval; (iv) data reported from ongoing clinical trials are necessarily interim data only and the final results will change based on continuing observations; (v) the timing of the commencement or end 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 Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 8, 2026. 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
VWu@nektar.com

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

For Media:

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

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SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics

FAQ

What inducement stock option grants did Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) announce on July 24, 2026?

Nektar Therapeutics announced non-qualified stock options for an aggregate 36,000 shares granted to 23 new employees. According to Nektar, these options were issued under the 2025 Inducement Plan as Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4) inducement awards tied to new employment.

What is the exercise price and term of the July 2026 Nektar (NKTR) inducement options?

The inducement options have an exercise price of $64.84 per share and an eight-year term. According to Nektar, the exercise price equals the July 20, 2026 closing price of its common stock, aligning the awards with then-prevailing market value.

How do the Nektar (NKTR) July 2026 inducement stock options vest for new employees?

The options vest over four years, with 1/4 vesting after one year, then 1/48 monthly. According to Nektar, vesting remains subject to each employee’s continued employment on the relevant vesting dates under the 2025 Inducement Plan and grant agreement.

What is Nektar Therapeutics’ 2025 Inducement Plan under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4)?

The 2025 Inducement Plan is used exclusively for equity awards to new hires as employment inducements. According to Nektar, it was adopted on November 6, 2025 and complies with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) for inducement-based equity compensation grants.

Does the July 2026 Nektar (NKTR) inducement grant affect existing shareholders’ ownership?

The grant authorizes options for 36,000 shares, which could increase the share count if exercised. According to Nektar, these are non-qualified stock options for new employees; the announcement does not quantify dilution relative to total shares outstanding.

What are Nektar Therapeutics’ key clinical programs mentioned with the July 2026 NKTR grant?

Nektar highlights rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG, NKTR-358) as its lead candidate in a registrational atopic dermatitis program. According to Nektar, REZPEG is also planned for alopecia areata studies and is in a Phase 2 trial in Type 1 diabetes, alongside earlier-stage pipeline assets.