Press Releases May 4, 2026 08:11 PM

Absci Announces Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Absci grants inducement stock options to key new employee under Nasdaq rules

By Hana Yamamoto ABSI
Absci Announces Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)
ABSI

Absci Corporation, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company using generative AI for drug discovery, announced a stock option inducement grant of 276,200 shares to a newly hired non-executive employee under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The option has a 10-year term with four-year vesting and an exercise price equal to the closing price on May 1, 2026. The company continues to advance its AI-driven drug discovery platform and therapeutics pipeline, including ABS-201 for hair regrowth and endometriosis treatment.

Key Points

  • Absci granted a non-statutory stock option for 276,200 shares to a new employee as an inducement under Nasdaq rules.
  • The stock options have a 10-year term, with a four-year vesting schedule, and exercise price set at $4.92 per share.
  • Absci leverages AI and synthetic biology in drug discovery, advancing therapeutics including ABS-201 targeting hair loss and endometriosis.
  • Sectors impacted include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and AI-driven drug discovery markets.

VANCOUVER, Wash. and NEW YORK, May 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Absci Corporation (Nasdaq: ABSI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing breakthrough therapeutics designed with generative AI, today announced that on May 1, 2026, the company granted a non-statutory stock option to purchase an aggregate of 276,200 shares of its common stock to one newly-hired non-executive employee. The inducement grant was previously approved by the Compensation Committee of Absci’s Board of Directors pursuant to Absci’s 2023 Inducement Plan (the “Inducement Plan”), and is being made as an inducement material to the new employee’s acceptance of employment with the company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

The stock option award has an exercise price of $4.92 per share, the closing price of Absci’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 1, 2026 the (“Grant Date”). The stock option has a 10-year term and vests over four years, and 25% of the shares subject to the option vest and become exercisable on the one-year anniversary of the Grant Date and the remaining 75% of the shares subject to the option vest and become exercisable in 36 approximately equal monthly installments thereafter such that the shares underlying the option granted to the new employee will be fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the Grant Date, subject to the new employee’s continued service with Absci on each such date (subject to the terms and conditions of the Inducement Plan and the option award agreement covering the grant).

About Absci
Absci is advancing the future of drug discovery with generative design to create better biologics for patients, faster. Our Integrated Drug Creation™ platform combines cutting-edge AI models with a synthetic biology data engine, enabling the rapid design of innovative therapeutics that address challenging therapeutic targets. Absci’s approach leverages a continuous feedback loop between advanced AI algorithms and wet lab validation. Each cycle refines our data and strengthens our models, facilitating rapid innovation and enhancing the precision of our therapeutic designs. Alongside collaborations with top pharmaceutical, biotech, tech, and academic leaders, Absci is advancing its own pipeline of AI designed therapeutics including ABS-201™, a groundbreaking innovation in hair regrowth with the potential to redefine treatment possibilities for androgenetic alopecia, commonly known as male and female pattern hair-loss. ABS-201 is also being investigated as a potential “best-in-class” therapeutic for endometriosis, a condition with significant unmet medical need and market potential. Absci is headquartered in Vancouver, WA, with AI Research Labs in New York City and Serbia, and an Innovation Center in Switzerland. Learn more at www.absci.com or follow us on LinkedIn (@absci), X (@Abscibio) and YouTube.

Absci® standard character mark, ABS-201™, and Integrated Drug Creation™ are trademarks and registered trademarks of Absci Corporation.

Investor Contact
Alexander D.H. Khan
Corporate Vice President
Head of Investor Relations
[email protected]

Media Contact
[email protected]


Risks

  • The inducement grant depends on the new employee's continued service, which may not materialize if they leave early.
  • As a clinical-stage biotech, Absci's drug candidates including ABS-201 face inherent clinical, regulatory, and commercialization uncertainties.
  • AI-based drug development is a developing field with technical and market adoption risks that could affect Absci's progress and valuation.

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