Marker Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MRKR) seeks approval to raise authorized shares to 130M
Marker Therapeutics, Inc. is soliciting proxies for its virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders on
Other matters include an advisory “say-on-pay” vote, approval to align future voting thresholds with Section 242(d)(2) of the DGCL, ratification of CBIZ CPAs P.C. as independent auditors for fiscal 2026, a conditional adjournment proposal tied to Proposal 3, and director elections. The record date is
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Proxy seeks expanded share authorization and a DGCL-aligned voting standard.
The proxy requests authorization to increase authorized common shares from
The proposal is procedural but consequential: it changes the corporate voting standard for discrete charter actions. Stockholder attention should focus on the exact charter language in Appendix B and the conditions tied to exchange listing requirements.
Board seeks flexibility to issue additional equity and reserved instruments.
The Board notes 16,673,127 shares outstanding as of
Management states no present plans to issue the additional shares. Future issuance mechanics and any dilutionary effects will depend on follow-on decisions and timing disclosed in subsequent filings.
(Amendment No. )
Houston, Texas 77021
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Virtual Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Register for the virtual Annual Meeting
via https://web.viewproxy.com/markertherapeutics/2026AM
The proxy statement and annual report to stockholders are available at
http://www.web.viewproxy.com/markertherapeutics/2026AM |
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Secretary
March , 2026
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You are cordially invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, please complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy, or vote over the telephone or the internet as instructed in these materials, as promptly as possible in order to ensure your representation at the meeting. A return envelope (which is postage prepaid if mailed in the United States) has been provided for your convenience. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still vote online if you attend the virtual Annual Meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder.
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Page
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING
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1
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PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
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8
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INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
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11
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PROPOSAL 2 ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
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17
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PROPOSAL 3 AMENDMENT TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED COMMON STOCK
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18
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PROPOSAL 4 AMENDMENT TO CHANGE VOTING THRESHOLD
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19
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PROPOSAL 5 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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22
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PROPOSAL 6 PROPOSAL TO ADJOURN MEETING
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24
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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25
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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26
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DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS
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28
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND KEY EMPLOYEES
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29
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
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37
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TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS AND INDEMNIFICATION
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39
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HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS
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42
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OTHER MATTERS
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43
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APPENDIX A CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED SHARES
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A-1
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APPENDIX B CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT TO CHANGE VOTING THRESHOLD
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B-1
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APPENDIX C PROXY CARD
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C-1
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2450 Holcombe Blvd, TMC Partners Office 1.311
Houston, Texas 77021
MAY 1, 2026
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Internet proxy voting has been provided to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your internet access, such as usage charges from internet access providers and telephone companies.
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A VOTE IN FAVOR OF EACH NAMED NOMINEE.
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Board Diversity Matrix (as of March 10, 2026)
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| | | Total Number of Directors | | | | | | | ||||
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Female
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Male
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Part I: Gender Identity
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Directors
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2
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3
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Part II: Demographic Background
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Asian
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—
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—
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Hispanic or Latinx
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—
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1
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White
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2
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1
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Two or More Races or Ethnicities
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—
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1
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Name
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Audit
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Compensation
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Nominating and
Corporate Governance |
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| David Eansor | | | | | X* | | | | | | X* | | | | | | | | |
| Steve Elms | | | | | X | | | | | | X | | | | | | | | |
| Katharine Knobil | | | | | | | | | | | X | | | | | | X* | | |
| Juan Vera | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kathryn Penkus Corzo | | | | | X | | | | | | | | | | | | X | | |
| Total meetings in fiscal year 2025 | | | | | 4 | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | 4 | | |
Steven Elms
Kathryn Penkus Corzo
A Vote In Favor Of Proposal 2.
A Vote In Favor Of Proposal 3.
A Vote In Favor Of Proposal 4.
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
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Year Ended
December 31, |
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2025
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2024
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| Audit Fees(1) | | | | $ | 274,000 | | | | | $ | 292,000 | | |
| Total Fees | | | | $ | 274,000 | | | | | $ | 292,000 | | |
A Vote In Favor Of Proposal 5.
A Vote In Favor Of Proposal 6.
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Name
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Age
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Position(s)
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| Juan Vera, M.D. | | |
46
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| | President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Director | |
| Maria Bernadette Madel, Ph.D. | | |
36
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| | Director, Corporate Operations and External Communications | |
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Beneficial Ownership(1)
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Beneficial Owner
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Number of
Shares |
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Percent of Total
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| 5% or greater stockholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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New Enterprise Associates(2)
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| | | | 4,196,428 | | | | | | 21.8% | | |
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Alyeska Fund GP, LLC(3)
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| | | | 1,875,000 | | | | | | 10.3% | | |
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Blue Owl Capital Holdings LP(4)
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| | | | 3,125,000 | | | | | | 16.2% | | |
| Named executive officers and directors: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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David Eansor(5)
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| | | | 30,944 | | | | | | * | | |
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Steven Elms(6)
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| | | | 387,918 | | | | | | 2.3% | | |
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Juan Vera(7)
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| | | | 490,625 | | | | | | 2.9% | | |
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Katharine Knobil(8)
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| | | | 38,650 | | | | | | * | | |
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Kathryn Penkus Corzo(9)
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| | | | 32,800 | | | | | | * | | |
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All executive officers and directors as a group (5 persons)
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| | | | 980,937 | | | | | | 5.7% | | |
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Plan Category
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Number of
Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options (A) |
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Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of Outstanding Options (B) |
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Number of
Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (A)) (C) |
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| Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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2020 Equity Incentive Plan
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| | | | 1,762,883 | | | | | $ | 7.77 | | | | | | 59,150 | | |
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Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders:(1)
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| None | | | | | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | — | | |
| Total: | | | | | | | | | | $ | | | | | | | | | |
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Name and Principal Position
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Year
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Salary
($) |
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Option
Awards(1) ($) |
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Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
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All Other
Compensation ($) |
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Total
($) |
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| Juan Vera, | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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President and Chief
Executive Officer(2) |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | | 415,385 | | | |
325,805
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| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 741,190 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 400,000 | | | |
—
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| | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 400,000 | | | ||
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Name
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Stock Options
Grant In Lieu of Earned Annual Incentive Compensation 2025 (Number of Shares Underlying Options) |
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Grant Date
Fair Value ($)(1) |
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| Juan Vera | | | | | 300,000 | | | | | | 325,805 | | |
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Option Awards(1)
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Name
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Grant Date
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Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
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Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable(4) |
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Option
Exercise Price ($) |
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Option
Expiration Date |
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Juan Vera
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| | | | 10/31/2025 | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 250,000 | | | | | $ | 0.9877 | | | | | | 10/31/2035 | | |
| | | | 2/12/2025 | | | | | | 16,666 | | | | | | 33,334 | | | | | $ | 1.59 | | | | | | 2/12/2035 | | | ||
| | | | 5/10/2023 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 100,000 | | | | | | 1.42 | | | | | | 5/10/2033 | | | ||
| | | | 2/27/2023 | | | | | | 9,680 | | | | | | 36,807 | | | | | | 2.14 | | | | | | 2/27/2032 | | | ||
| | | | 2/17/2022 | | | | | | 7,336 | | | | | | 8,665 | | | | | | 4.60 | | | | | | 2/17/2032 | | | ||
| | | | 2/10/2021 | | | | | | 9,923 | | | | | | 4,077 | | | | | | 32.90 | | | | | | 2/10/2031 | | | ||
| | | | 3/10/2020 | | | | | | 13,127 | | | | | | 873 | | | | | | 21.20 | | | | | | 3/10/2030 | | | ||
| | | | 10/19/2018 | | | | | | 50,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 91.80 | | | | | | 10/19/2028 | | | ||
| Year | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 1(1) ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 1(1)(2)(3) ($) | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 2(1) ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 2(1)(2)(3) ($) | | | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(1) ($) | | | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(1)(2)(3) ($) | | | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment based on TSR(4) ($) | | | Net Income ($ Millions) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |||
| 2024 | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |||
| 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ( | | | |||||||
| Year | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO 2 ($) | | | Exclusion of Option Awards for PEO 2 ($) | | | Inclusion of Equity Values for PEO 2 ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 2 ($) | | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | | | | | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | |||
| Year | | | Year-End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year That Remained Unvested as of Last Day of Year for PEO 2 ($) | | | Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Last Day of Year of Unvested Equity Awards for PEO 2 ($) | | | Vesting-Date Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted During Year that Vested During Year for PEO 2 ($) | | | Change in Fair Value from Last Day of Prior Year to Vesting Date of Unvested Equity Awards that Vested During Year for PEO 2 ($) | | | Fair Value at Last Day of Prior Year of Equity Awards Forefeited During Year for PEO 2 ($) | | | Value of Dividends or Other Earnings Paid on Equity Awards Not Otherwise Included for PEO 2 ($) | | | Total — Inclusion of Equity Values for PEO 2 ($) | | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | ( | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | ( | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | | | ||
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Name(1)(2)
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Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash $(3) |
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Option Awards
($) |
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Total
($) |
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| David Eansor | | | | | 99,000 | | | | | | 209,385 | | | | | | 308,385 | | |
| Steven Elms | | | | | 52,500 | | | | | | 209,385 | | | | | | 261,885 | | |
| Katharine Knobil | | | | | 60,500 | | | | | | 209,385 | | | | | | 269,885 | | |
| Kathryn Penkus Corzo | | | | | 10,000 | | | | | | 120,000 | | | | | | 130,000 | | |
Secretary
WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL 3
TO
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
MARKER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
WITH RESPECT TO PROPOSAL 4
TO
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
MARKER THERAPEUTICS, INC.
FAQ
What is Marker Therapeutics (MRKR) asking shareholders to approve on May 1, 2026?
How many shares of Marker Therapeutics were outstanding for voting purposes?
What does the proposed voting-threshold amendment do for MRKR?
Will Marker Therapeutics issue the newly authorized shares if the amendment passes?
Who is the company’s independent auditor for fiscal 2026?