Vera Therapeutics Announces Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Vera Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VERA) announced inducement equity awards granted January 5, 2026 to 18 new employees under its 2024 Inducement Plan.

The Compensation Committee granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 228,750 shares and restricted stock units underlying 116,000 shares. Each option has an exercise price of $47.07, equal to the closing price on January 5, 2026.

Options vest over four years (25% at one year, then monthly over 36 months) subject to continued service; RSUs vest 25% on each anniversary of February 20, 2026 over four years. Awards are subject to the Inducement Plan and award agreements.

News Market Reaction – VERA

+2.14%

1 alert

+2.14% News Effect

+$72M Valuation Impact

$3.41B Market Cap

0.6x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, VERA gained 2.14%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. This price movement added approximately $72M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $3.41B at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Stock options granted: 228,750 shares RSUs granted: 116,000 shares New employees: 18 employees +5 more

8 metrics

Stock options granted 228,750 shares Non-qualified options under 2024 Inducement Plan to new employees

RSUs granted 116,000 shares Restricted stock units under 2024 Inducement Plan to new employees

New employees 18 employees Recipients of inducement awards under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Option exercise price $47.07 Exercise price per share, equal to Jan 5, 2026 closing price

Option vesting term 4 years 25% after one year, then monthly vesting over 36 months

RSU vesting term 4 years 25% of shares vest on each anniversary of Feb 20, 2026

Initial vesting cliff 25% First-year vesting portion for both stock options and RSUs

Monthly vesting period 36 months Remaining option vesting after first anniversary

Market Reality Check

Price: $42.37 Vol: Volume 1,042,794 is below...

normal vol

$42.37 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,042,794 is below the 20-day average of 1,363,783, suggesting muted trading interest ahead of this update. normal

Technical Shares at $47.69 are trading above the 200-day MA at $27.58 and 14.92% below the 52-week high of $56.05.

Peers on Argus

VERA was down 2.03% while peers were mixed: AUPH fell 3.58%, ARDX rose 13.54%, a...

1 Up

VERA was down 2.03% while peers were mixed: AUPH fell 3.58%, ARDX rose 13.54%, and others (VRDN, CDTX, EWTX) showed modest moves. Only ARDX appeared in momentum scanners, suggesting today’s setup is stock-specific rather than a broad biotechnology move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 07 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 07	FDA priority review	Positive	+4.6%	FDA accepted BLA for atacicept with Priority Review and set PDUFA date.
Dec 09	Equity offering priced	Negative	-0.8%	Underwritten public offering of Class A shares at $42.50 for ~$261M.
Dec 08	Equity offering proposed	Negative	+0.3%	Proposed $200M Class A stock sale from existing Form S-3 shelf.
Dec 05	Inducement grants	Neutral	+0.3%	Inducement stock options and RSUs granted to seven new employees.
Nov 26	Board appointment	Positive	+13.3%	Veteran biotech executive James R. Meyers added to board to support launch.

Pattern Detected

Positive regulatory and clinical milestones have coincided with notable gains, while equity offerings saw modest or mixed reactions. Routine governance or inducement items have historically produced limited price impact.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Vera reported several key milestones. On Nov 6, 2025, it disclosed positive Phase 3 ORIGIN data for atacicept in IgA nephropathy. This was followed by an FDA Priority Review and accepted BLA with a PDUFA date of Jul 7, 2026, and a significant board appointment of James R. Meyers, which drew a strong positive price reaction. In December 2025, Vera executed and priced a sizeable equity offering and issued prior inducement grants, indicating ongoing investment in growth and hiring.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details routine inducement equity awards under Vera’s 2024 Inducement Plan, granti...

Analysis

This announcement details routine inducement equity awards under Vera’s 2024 Inducement Plan, granting options on 228,750 shares and RSUs on 116,000 shares at an exercise price of $47.07. Vesting spans four years, tying new employees’ compensation to long-term performance. In context of recent regulatory milestones for atacicept, board changes, and prior equity offerings, investors may track how ongoing hiring and equity use support execution on commercialization and pipeline expansion while monitoring cumulative dilution over time.

Key Terms

non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), Class A common stock

4 terms

non-qualified stock options financial

"inducement awards consisting of non-qualified stock options to purchase 228,750"

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 (RSUs) financial

"and restricted stock units (RSUs) underlying 116,000 shares of Class A"

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

"Inducement Grants Under 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.

Class A common stock financial

"options to purchase 228,750 shares of Class A common stock and restricted"

Class A common stock is a category of a company’s shares that carries a specific set of ownership rights—most commonly defined voting power and claims on dividends—set out in the company’s charter. For investors it matters because the class determines how much influence you have over corporate decisions, the share’s likely dividend and trading behavior, and how it compares in value to other share classes, like choosing a particular seat with different privileges at the company’s decision-making table.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

BRISBANE, Calif., Jan. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERA) today announced that, on January 5, 2026, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Vera Therapeutics granted inducement awards consisting of non-qualified stock options to purchase 228,750 shares of Class A common stock and restricted stock units (RSUs) underlying 116,000 shares of Class A common stock to eighteen (18) new employees under the Vera Therapeutics, Inc. 2024 Inducement Plan (Inducement Plan). The Compensation Committee approved the awards as an inducement material to the new employees’ employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

Each stock option granted on January 5, 2026 has an exercise price per share equal to $47.07, Vera Therapeutics’ closing trading price on January 5, 2026. Each stock option will vest over four years, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting on the first anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date and the balance of the underlying shares vesting monthly thereafter over 36 months, subject to the new employee’s continued service relationship with Vera Therapeutics through the applicable vesting dates. Each of the RSU awards will vest over four years, with 25% of the underlying shares vesting on each anniversary of February 20, 2026, subject to the new employee’s continued service relationship with Vera Therapeutics through the applicable vesting dates. The awards are subject to the terms and conditions of the Inducement Plan and the terms and conditions of an applicable award agreement covering the grant.

About Vera Therapeutics
Vera Therapeutics is a late clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for serious immunological diseases. Vera Therapeutics’ mission is to advance treatments that target the source of disease in order to change the standard of care for patients. Vera Therapeutics’ lead product candidate is atacicept, a fusion protein self-administered at home as a subcutaneous once weekly injection that blocks both B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL), which stimulate B cells to produce autoantibodies contributing to certain autoimmune diseases, including immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and lupus nephritis. Beyond IgAN, Vera Therapeutics is evaluating additional diseases where the reduction of autoantibodies by atacicept may prove clinically meaningful. In addition, Vera Therapeutics holds an exclusive license agreement with Stanford University for a novel, next generation fusion protein targeting BAFF and APRIL, known as VT-109, with wide therapeutic potential across the spectrum of B-cell-mediated diseases. Vera Therapeutics is also developing MAU868, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize infection with BK virus, which can have devastating consequences in kidney transplant recipients. Vera Therapeutics retains all global developmental and commercial rights to atacicept, VT-109 and MAU868. For more information, please visit www.veratx.com.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Contact:
Joyce Allaire
LifeSci Advisors
212-915-2569
jallaire@lifesciadvisors.com

Media Contact:
Debra Charlesworth
Vera Therapeutics
415-854-8051
corporatecommunications@veratx.com

FAQ

What equity inducements did Vera Therapeutics (VERA) grant on January 5, 2026?

The company granted options to buy 228,750 shares and RSUs underlying 116,000 shares to 18 new employees.

What is the exercise price for the VERA options granted January 5, 2026?

Each option has an exercise price of $47.07, equal to Vera Therapeutics' closing price on January 5, 2026.

How do the VERA options vest for the January 5, 2026 grants?

Options vest over four years with 25% at the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and the remainder monthly over 36 months, subject to continued service.

When do the RSUs from Vera Therapeutics vest for the January 5, 2026 awards?

Each RSU award vests over four years with 25% vesting on each anniversary of February 20, 2026, subject to continued service.

Under which plan were the VERA inducement awards granted and why?

Awards were granted under the 2024 Inducement Plan and were approved as inducements material to employment under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).