Press Releases May 1, 2026 05:30 PM

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

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals announces stock option grant to new employee under Nasdaq inducement rule

By Hana Yamamoto ZNTL
Zentalis Pharmaceuticals Announces Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)
ZNTL

Zentalis Pharmaceuticals has granted non-qualified stock options for 26,000 shares to a newly hired employee as an inducement to employment, pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The options have an exercise price equal to the closing stock price on the grant date, a 10-year term, and vest over four years subject to continued service.

Key Points

  • Grant of 26,000 stock options to newly hired employee under 2022 Inducement Plan
  • Options priced at $4.09 per share, matching closing price on date of grant
  • Vesting occurs over four years with initial 25% vesting after one year

SAN DIEGO, May 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zentalis® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZNTL), a clinical oncology innovator advancing late-stage development of investigational first-in-class WEE1 inhibitor azenosertib as a biomarker-driven treatment approach for ovarian cancer, today announced that on May 1, 2026, the Compensation Committee of Zentalis’ Board of Directors granted non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 26,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to one (1) newly hired employee. The stock options were granted under the Zentalis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2022 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan (2022 Inducement Plan) as an inducement material to 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 $4.09 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 employee’s continued service to Zentalis on each vesting date.

About Zentalis Pharmaceuticals
Zentalis is a clinical oncology innovator developing a treatment approach for ovarian cancer and multiple tumor types. Leveraging therapeutics development and biomarker expertise, Zentalis is advancing monotherapy and combination studies of its first-in-class WEE1 inhibitor, azenosertib. Focused on translating WEE1 science into clinical practice, we aim to equip physicians with a targeted, non-chemo, orally available medicine that enhances treatment experience, choice, and outcomes. Our mission: to unburden cancer patients with more convenience and care.​

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

ZENTALIS® and its associated logo are trademarks of Zentalis and/or its affiliates. All website addresses and other links in this press release are for information only and are not intended to be an active link or to incorporate any website or other information into this press release.

Contact: 
Aron Feingold
VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
[email protected]


Risks

  • Potential dilution effect on existing shareholders due to new stock option grants
  • Uncertainty if new hires and associated stock incentive will drive long-term company growth
  • Dependence on clinical progress of investigational oncology therapy in an uncertain regulatory and market environment

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