Nektar Therapeutics Grants Stock Options and RSUs to New Employees

Nektar Therapeutics announced on September 25, 2026, that its Organization and Compensation Committee granted non-qualified stock options to purchase 58,600 shares of common stock and 2,450 restricted stock units (RSUs) to eleven newly hired employees. These grants, dated September 18, 2026, were made under the company's 2025 Inducement Plan, a program established in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The stock options were issued with an exercise price of $67.10 per share, equal to the closing price of Nektar's common stock on the grant date. The options and RSUs will vest over a four-year period, contingent upon the employees' continued service with Nektar. The vesting schedule for options includes a 1/4th vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, followed by monthly vesting over the subsequent three years. RSU vesting follows a similar four-year schedule, with initial vesting after one year and subsequent quarterly vesting.

The 2025 Inducement Plan is specifically designed to grant equity awards to individuals who are not previously employees or non-employee directors of Nektar. This strategy aims to provide a material inducement for new personnel to join the company, aligning their interests with Nektar's long-term performance.

Nektar Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Its pipeline includes rezpegaldesleukin (REZPEG) for conditions such as atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata.