Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Announces Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Rhea-AI Summary

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals announced the granting of inducement stock options to four newly hired employees on June 2, 2025. The Compensation Committee approved non-qualified stock options to purchase 137,400 shares of common stock under the company's 2022 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan. The options have an exercise price of $1.28 per share, matching the closing price on Nasdaq that day. These 10-year options will vest over four years, with 25% vesting after the first year and the remaining 75% vesting monthly over three years, contingent on continued employment. Zentalis, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is developing a potential first-in-class WEE1 inhibitor for ovarian cancer and other tumor types.

Positive

• Stock options granted as incentive to attract new talent
• Company developing potentially first-in-class WEE1 inhibitor for cancer treatment

Negative

• None.

SAN DIEGO, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zentalis® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a potentially first-in-class and best-in-class WEE1 inhibitor for patients with ovarian cancer and other tumor types, today announced that on June 2, 2025, the Compensation Committee of Zentalis’ Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 137,400 shares of the Company’s common stock to four (4) newly hired employees. The stock options were granted under the Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2022 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (2022 Inducement Plan) as an inducement material to each such individual’s entering into employment with Zentalis in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The 2022 Inducement Plan is used exclusively for the grant of equity awards to individuals who were not previously employees of Zentalis, or following a bona fide period of non-employment, as an inducement material to each such individual’s entering into employment with Zentalis, pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The stock options have an exercise price of $1.28 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Zentalis’ common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on the date of grant. The stock options have a 10-year term and will vest over four years, with 25% of the options vesting on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and the remaining 75% of the options vesting in equal monthly installments over the three years thereafter.

Vesting of the stock options is subject to the employees’ continued service to Zentalis on each vesting date.

About Zentalis Pharmaceuticals
Zentalis® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing azenosertib (ZN-c3), a potentially first-in-class and best-in-class WEE1 inhibitor for patients with Cyclin E1+ platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC). Azenosertib is being evaluated as a monotherapy and in combination across multiple tumor types in clinical trials and has broad franchise potential. In clinical trials, azenosertib has been well tolerated and has demonstrated anti-tumor activity as a single agent across multiple tumor types. The Company is also leveraging its extensive experience and capabilities to translate its science to advance research on additional areas of opportunity for azenosertib outside PROC. Zentalis has operations in San Diego.

For more information, please visit www.zentalis.com. Follow Zentalis on X/Twitter at @ZentalisP and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/zentalis-pharmaceuticals.

Contact:
Aron Feingold, VP, IR & Corp Comms
ir@zentalis.com

FAQ

What stock options did Zentalis Pharmaceuticals (ZNTL) grant to new employees in June 2025?

Zentalis granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 137,400 shares of common stock to four new employees, with an exercise price of $1.28 per share and a 10-year term.

What is the vesting schedule for ZNTL's June 2025 inducement stock options?

The options vest over 4 years, with 25% vesting after the first year and the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over the following three years.

What is Zentalis Pharmaceuticals' main drug development focus?

Zentalis is developing a potentially first-in-class and best-in-class WEE1 inhibitor for patients with ovarian cancer and other tumor types.

What was the exercise price for ZNTL's June 2025 inducement grants?

The stock options have an exercise price of $1.28 per share, equal to Zentalis' closing price on The Nasdaq Global Market on the grant date.