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Geron Corporation Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) - April 20, 2026

Key Takeaway: Geron Corporation announced the grant of stock options to nine new employees as an inducement for their acceptance of employment. The options, totaling 855,000 shares, have an exercise price of $1.68 per share and will vest over four years. This move aligns with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and aims to bolster the company's workforce as it continues its focus on blood cancer therapies.
Price reaction · baseline $1.56 (2026-04-20 close) · hit pre-market · 1 other GERN headline(s) in the window, move may be shared
day 0 close · peak
-3.8%

Market Sentiment Analysis

POSITIVE FACTORS

  • Geron Corporation is expanding its workforce with new hires.
  • Stock options granted may enhance employee retention and motivation.
  • The company is actively engaging in pivotal clinical trials for blood cancer treatments.

BiopharmaWatch Analysis

From our catalyst data and publicly available data · not financial advice
Best trade, last catalyst
+185%
120-day peak, hindsight
Typical move
12%
average across 5 past catalysts
Cash runway
~60 mo
Minimal dilution risk
Lead asset
Imetelstat
Phase 3 · Myelofibrosis

Full Press Release Details

FOSTER CITY, Calif., April 20, 2026(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)-- Geron Corporation (Nasdaq: GERN), a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company, today reported that, effective April 17, 2026, it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 855,000 shares of common stock to nine newly hired employees as an inducement material to such employees’ acceptance of employment with Geron.
The stock options have an exercise price of $1.68 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Geron’s common stock on the grant date, have a ten-year term and vest over four years, with 12.5% of the shares underlying the options vesting on the six-month anniversary of commencement of employment of such employee and the remaining shares vesting over the following 42 months in equal installments of whole shares, subject to continued employment with Geron through the applicable vesting dates.
The equity awards were granted by the Compensation Committee of Geron’s Board of Directors in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) and are subject to the terms and conditions of Geron’s 2018 Inducement Award Plan and the form of stock option agreement under the plan.
About GeronGeron is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to change lives by changing the course of blood cancer. Our first-in-class telomerase inhibitor RYTELO®(imetelstat) is approved in the United States and the European Union for the treatment of certain adult patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes with transfusion dependent anemia. We are also conducting a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of imetelstat in JAK-inhibitor relapsed/refractory myelofibrosis, as well as studies in other hematologic malignancies. Inhibiting telomerase activity, which is increased in malignant stem and progenitor cells in the bone marrow, aims to potentially reduce proliferation and induce death of malignant cells. To learn more, visitwww.geron.comor follow us onLinkedIn.

CONTACT:Dawn SchottlandtSenior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Affairsdschottlandt@geron.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the stock options granted by Geron?

The stock options were granted as an inducement for new employees to accept their positions at Geron.

How many shares of stock options were granted?

Geron granted a total of 855,000 shares of stock options to nine newly hired employees.

What is the exercise price of the stock options?

The exercise price for the stock options is $1.68 per share.

How long is the vesting period for the stock options?

The stock options vest over four years, with 12.5% vesting after six months.

What is Geron's focus in the biopharmaceutical industry?

Geron focuses on developing treatments for blood cancer, particularly using its telomerase inhibitor, imetelstat.

Last updated: Apr 21, 2026