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

Vesting depends on continued employment, with different schedules for the options and restricted stock units.

Rhea-AI Summary

Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) granted stock options and restricted stock units to eleven newly hired employees on September 18, 2026.

The awards comprise options to purchase 58,600 common shares and 2,450 restricted stock units under the company's 2025 Inducement Plan. The options have a $67.10 per-share 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 plan is used for employment inducement awards under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Key Figures

Stock options granted: 58,600 shares Restricted stock units granted: 2,450 RSUs Employees receiving grants: 11 employees +3 more

Stock options granted

58,600 shares

Aggregate inducement grants to newly hired employees

Restricted stock units granted

2,450 RSUs

Inducement grants to newly hired employees

Employees receiving grants

11 employees

Newly hired employees

Option exercise price

$67.10 per share

Equal to the September 18, 2026 closing price

Option term

8 years

Non-qualified stock options

Award vesting period

4 years

Options and RSUs, subject to continued employment

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 58,600 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 2,450 restricted stock units (RSUs) to eleven 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

"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.

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

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NKTR) today announced that, on September 18, 2026, the Organization and Compensation Committee of Nektar's Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 58,600 shares of its common stock and 2,450 restricted stock units (RSUs) to eleven 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 $67.10, which is equal to the closing price of Nektar's common stock on September 18, 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 RSUs vest over four years with 1/4^th of the shares vesting following the one-year anniversary of the employee's grant date and 1/16^th 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, 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.

How do Nektar Therapeutics' September 2026 inducement awards vest?

The options and restricted stock units vest over four years, subject to continued employment. For options, one-quarter of the shares vest on the grant date's one-year anniversary, followed by monthly vesting over the next three years. For restricted stock units, one-quarter vest following that anniversary, followed by quarterly vesting over the next three years.