Acadia Pharmaceuticals Grants Equity Awards to New Hires Under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4)
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders and rare diseases, announced today that it has granted equity awards to newly hired employees as part of its ongoing talent acquisition strategy.
On July 2, 2025, the Compensation Committee of Acadia’s Board of Directors approved the issuance of equity-based inducement awards under the company’s 2024 Inducement Plan. These grants include non-qualified stock options to purchase a total of 35,607 shares of Acadia’s common stock, as well as 29,571 restricted stock units (RSUs). The awards were granted to seventeen newly hired employees, and were approved in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), which permits the granting of equity awards to new employees without stockholder approval when such awards are considered a material component of their employment inducement.
The stock options granted carry an exercise price of $21.24 per share, which is equal to the closing price of Acadia’s common stock on the date of the grant, July 2, 2025. These options will vest over a four-year period, a standard structure intended to incentivize long-term performance and retention. Specifically, 25% of the options will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, with the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over the following 36 months. Continued employment with Acadia is a condition for the vesting of the options.
In addition to the stock options, the seventeen employees were awarded a total of 29,571 RSUs, which also follow a four-year vesting schedule. Under the terms of the RSU grants, 50% of the awarded shares will vest on the second anniversary of the grant date, while the remaining shares will vest in two equal annual installments on the third and fourth anniversaries, respectively. As with the stock options, the vesting of RSUs is contingent upon the recipients maintaining an active employment relationship with the company.
These equity awards are governed by the provisions of Acadia’s 2024 Inducement Plan and are subject to the terms outlined in each recipient’s individual award agreement. This plan is designed to provide the company with a flexible mechanism to attract and retain high-caliber talent, especially in competitive therapeutic areas such as neurology and psychiatry, where Acadia has established itself as a key player.
By utilizing inducement grants, Acadia aims to strengthen its workforce with skilled professionals who will contribute to the development and commercialization of therapies targeting neurological and psychiatric conditions. These areas remain underserved by current treatments, and Acadia’s pipeline reflects its commitment to addressing these gaps with science-driven innovation.
The granting of inducement equity awards under Rule 5635(c)(4) is a common practice among Nasdaq-listed companies seeking to remain competitive in recruiting and retaining talent, particularly in the life sciences sector where employee stock compensation is an integral component of compensation packages. These awards are designed to align employee incentives with the company’s long-term strategic goals and to foster a sense of ownership among new hires.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals continues to invest in expanding its team and capabilities as it advances its mission to deliver transformative therapies to patients in need. The newly issued inducement grants are a strategic step in supporting that growth and maintaining momentum in key research, development, and commercialization activities.
With these recent grants, Acadia reaffirms its commitment to attracting top talent and supporting a dynamic and engaged workforce, which is vital to the successful execution of its clinical programs and commercial strategy.
