Spruce Biosciences Appoints Dale Hooks, an Accomplished Rare Disease Commercial Leader, as Chief Commercial Officer

Key Terms

restricted stock units (rsus) financial

Restricted stock units (RSUs) are a type of company promise to give employees shares of stock in the future, usually after certain conditions like working for a set time. They are like a gift promised today that you receive later, which can become valuable if the company's stock price goes up. RSUs matter because they are a way companies reward employees and can be a significant part of compensation.

nasdaq listing rule 5635(c)(4) regulatory

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.

biologics license application regulatory

A biologics license application is a formal request submitted to regulatory authorities seeking approval to market a new biological medicine, such as vaccines or treatments made from living organisms. It is a comprehensive review process that evaluates the safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality of the product. For investors, receiving approval signals that a biological therapy can be sold to the public, potentially leading to revenue growth and market success.

enzyme replacement therapy medical

Enzyme replacement therapy is a medical treatment that involves providing patients with artificial versions of natural enzymes their bodies are missing or not producing enough of. This approach can help manage certain health conditions by restoring essential functions, similar to replacing a faulty part in a machine to keep it running smoothly. For investors, advancements or approvals in this therapy can signal progress in biotech innovation and potential market growth.

sanfilippo syndrome type b (mps iiib) medical

A rare, inherited neurological disorder caused by the lack of a single enzyme that clears specific cellular waste, leading to a progressive buildup in the brain and nervous system that impairs learning, behavior and movement. Investors watch it because developing a safe and effective therapy can create significant commercial and regulatory value—think of a successful treatment as unclogging a critical drain—so clinical trial results, approvals or setbacks can sharply affect biotech valuations.

inducement awards financial

Inducement awards are special bonuses given to new employees to encourage them to join a company, often in the form of stock or money. They matter because they can motivate talented people to choose one company over another and help align their success with the company's growth. Think of it like a signing bonus to seal the deal.

Mr. Hooks Brings Over Three Decades of Comprehensive Biopharmaceutical Marketing and Commercialization Expertise, Including the Launch of 21 New Products

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRB), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for neurological disorders with significant unmet medical need, today announced the appointment of Dale Hooks as Chief Commercial Officer.

Mr. Hooks joins the company with nearly 35 years of pharmaceutical marketing and sales experience, including commercial leadership roles for 21 new product launches. Mr. Hooks previously served as Chief Commercial Officer of Applied Therapeutics and was responsible for leading the company’s commercial preparations in two rare diseases. Prior to his role at Applied Therapeutics, he served as the Vice President, Global Commercial Operations at Reata Pharmaceuticals where he oversaw early access programs and led one of the most successful rare disease launches in U.S. history. Reata Pharmaceuticals was subsequently acquired by Biogen. Prior to his role at Reata Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Hooks served as Chief Commercial Officer at Clovis Oncology. Previously, Mr. Hooks also served in several commercial roles of increasing responsibility at Genentech, most recently as Franchise Head, Oncology. During his tenure at Genentech, he helped launch several new products and build multiple commercial franchises to support new approvals. Mr. Hooks has also held leadership and commercial roles at Galderma Laboratories, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and Glaxo Wellcome, now part of GSK. Mr. Hooks earned his BBA from Stephen F. Austin University and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Dale has demonstrated an exceptional ability to build high-performing commercial teams and drive meaningful value for patients across multiple therapeutic areas, including rare diseases,” said Javier Szwarcberg, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Executive Officer of Spruce Biosciences. “His experience shaping commercial strategy and building launch-ready infrastructure will be instrumental as we enter our next phase of growth and prepare our planned biologics license application submission for the tralesinidase alfa enzyme replacement therapy (TA-ERT) program in Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B (MPS IIIB). We are delighted to welcome Dale to our executive leadership team.”

Mr. Hooks added, “I am thrilled to join this committed and talented team as we prepare for the potential commercial launch of TA-ERT. The Spruce leadership team has built tremendous momentum in advancing TA-ERT, potentially the first disease-modifying treatment option for MPS IIIB, and I am eager to help provide hope and optimism to the patients and their families who are living with this devastating disease.”

Inducement Awards

In connection with Mr. Hooks’ employment with Spruce, on March 9, 2026, Mr. Hooks was granted restricted stock units (RSUs) for 11,000 shares of Spruce’s common stock. While the inducement awards are being made outside of Spruce’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan, the awards will be subject to terms and conditions generally consistent with those set forth under such plan and the award agreements thereunder. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the award as an inducement material to Mr. Hooks’ entering into employment with the company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The RSUs will be subject to time-based vesting criteria, vesting in equal annual installments over four years.

About Spruce Biosciences

Spruce Biosciences is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for neurological disorders with significant unmet medical need. To learn more, visit www.sprucebio.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the impact of new management hires, the fulfillment of Spruce’s strategic business objectives, potential BLA submission, regulatory approval, commercial launch of TA-ERT, and TA-ERT’s potential to be the first-disease modifying treatment option for MPS IIIB. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “plan”, “will”, “believe”, “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Spruce’s current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with Spruce’s business in general, the impact of geopolitical and macroeconomic events, and the other risks described in Spruce’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. Spruce undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260309424476/en/

Media

Carolyn Hawley

Inizio Evoke Comms

Carolyn.Hawley@inizioevoke.com

media@sprucebio.com

Investors

Monique Kosse

Gilmartin Group

Monique@GilmartinIR.com

investors@sprucebio.com

Source: Spruce Biosciences, Inc.