Cartesian Therapeutics Announces New Employment Inducement Grants

Cartesian Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RNAC) granted inducement stock options to two new employees on February 2, 2026.

Rhea-AI Summary

Cartesian Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RNAC) granted inducement stock options to two new employees on February 2, 2026. The awards total 12,050 options with an exercise price of $6.79 per share, equal to the Nasdaq closing price that day.

The options vest 25% on February 2, 2027, then monthly over 36 months, fully vesting February 2, 2030, and carry a ten-year term. Grants were approved by the board and made under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4) as inducements to employment.

Argus Feb 3 session

+2.06% close to close 1.2x rel. volume Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – RNAC

On Feb 3, the day this news came out, RNAC closed 2.06% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Feb 3 session.

Key Figures

Inducement options: 12,050 shares Exercise price: $6.79 Initial vesting: 25% +5 more

Inducement options

12,050 shares

Aggregate options granted to two new employees

Exercise price

$6.79

Equal to Nasdaq closing price on February 2, 2026

Initial vesting

25%

Vests on February 2, 2027

Monthly vesting tranches

36 installments

After first anniversary, through February 2, 2030

Full vesting date

February 2, 2030

Options fully vested by this date

Option term

10 years

Expiration 10 years from grant date

Grant date

February 2, 2026

Date options were granted

Rule reference

Rule 5635(c)(4)

Nasdaq Listing Rules provision used for inducement grants

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 09

5 events

1. Jan 09

   Outlook & pipeline

   24h Move

   +1.0%

   Outlined 2026 priorities and Descartes-08 Phase 3 AURORA and myositis plans.

2. Jan 06

   Inducement grants

   24h Move

   +1.9%

   Granted options for 7,350 shares to new employees under inducement plan.

3. Dec 18

   Board appointment

   24h Move

   -1.9%

   Added experienced R&D leader Adrian Bot to the Board and S&T Committee.

4. Nov 13

   Clinical data update

   24h Move

   -4.6%

   Reported strong Phase 2 Descartes-08 SLE efficacy and shifted focus to MG/myositis.

5. Nov 06

   Earnings & update

   24h Move

   -1.6%

   Q3 2025 results, cash runway to mid-2027, and multiple trial updates for Descartes-08.

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

Key Terms

cell therapy, exercise price, Nasdaq Listing Rules

3 terms

cell therapy medical

"a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering cell therapy for autoimmune"

Cell therapy uses living human or animal cells as the medicine: cells are collected, sometimes grown or altered, and then given to a patient to repair, replace, or boost damaged tissue or immune function. For investors, cell therapies can transform markets because they may offer one-time or highly effective treatments that command premium prices, but they also carry high development, manufacturing and regulatory costs and commercial risks, like building a custom factory rather than making a simple product.

exercise price financial

"options to purchase an aggregate of 12,050 shares ... with an exercise price of $6.79"

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.

Nasdaq Listing Rules regulatory

"granted under Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules as an inducement"

Nasdaq listing rules are the rulebook a company must follow to have its shares traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange, covering entry requirements and ongoing standards for finances, corporate governance, public disclosure and reporting. For investors they matter because the rules create baseline checks — like a driver’s license and regular inspections for a car — that promote transparency, comparability and reduce the risk of fraud or sudden delisting.

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

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FREDERICK, Md., Feb. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNAC) (the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering cell therapy for autoimmune diseases, today announced the granting of inducement awards to two new employees. On February 2, 2026, the Company issued to these employees options to purchase an aggregate of 12,050 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $6.79, the closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant. The options were granted pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2018 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan and were approved by the Company’s board of directors. The options vest as to 25% on February 2, 2027, and then in thirty-six substantially equal monthly installments thereafter such that the options will be fully vested on February 2, 2030. The options have a ten-year term. The options were granted under Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules as an inducement material to the employees’ entry into employment with the Company.

About Cartesian Therapeutics

Cartesian Therapeutics is a clinical-stage company pioneering cell therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The Company’s lead asset, Descartes-08, is a CAR-T in Phase 3 clinical development for patients with generalized myasthenia gravis with plans to initiate a Phase 2 trial in myositis. For more information, please visit www.cartesiantherapeutics.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn or X.

Contact Information:
Investor Contact:
Megan LeDuc
Associate Director, Investor Relations
megan.leduc@cartesiantx.com

Media Contact:
David Rosen
Argot Partners
david.rosen@argotpartners.com

FAQ

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

What stock option grants did Cartesian Therapeutics (RNAC) announce on February 3, 2026?

Cartesian granted inducement options totaling 12,050 shares to two new employees. According to the company, options were issued on February 2, 2026 with a $6.79 exercise price equal to that day's Nasdaq close.

What are the vesting terms for the RNAC inducement options granted February 2, 2026?

The options vest 25% after one year, then monthly over three years, fully vesting on February 2, 2030. According to the company, that schedule follows the Amended and Restated 2018 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan.

What exercise price and term apply to the Cartesian Therapeutics (RNAC) inducement options?

The options carry an exercise price of $6.79 and a ten-year term from grant. According to the company, the $6.79 price matched the Nasdaq closing price on the grant date, February 2, 2026.

Under what authority were the RNAC inducement awards granted to new employees?

Grants were made under the company's Amended and Restated 2018 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan and Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4). According to the company, the board approved the awards as inducements to employment.

Will the February 2, 2026 RNAC option grants immediately dilute existing shareholders?

The grants create potential future dilution if options are exercised, but no immediate share issuance occurred. According to the company, 12,050 options were issued with exercise at future conversion, subject to vesting and exercise.