SEC Form DEF 14A filed by Alto Neuroscience Inc.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
| | Filed by the Registrant | | | ☒ | | | | |
| | Filed by a party other than the Registrant | | | ☐ | | | | |
650 Castro Street, Suite 450
Mountain View, California 94041
To Be Held On May 12, 2026
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time via live webcast. |
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This Notice, the accompanying Proxy Statement and our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K
are available at www.proxyvote.com. Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to submit your vote in advance via the internet, telephone or mail. |
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General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer; Corporate Secretary
March 26, 2026
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You are cordially invited to attend our Annual Meeting via our virtual meeting platform. Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, please vote over the telephone or the internet prior to the Annual Meeting as instructed in these materials, or if you receive a paper proxy card by mail, by completing and returning such proxy card promptly in order to ensure your representation at the Annual Meeting. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still vote at the Annual Meeting.
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650 Castro Street, Suite 450
Mountain View, California 94041
FOR THE 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
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Proposals
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Page
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Voting Standard
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Board
Recommendation |
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| Election of Directors | | |
8
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| | Plurality of the votes of the shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote in the election of directors. Only votes “For” will affect the outcome of the vote; “withhold” votes and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote. | | |
“For” the director nominees
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| Ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2026 | | |
20
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| | Affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on this matter, voting affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes). | | |
“For”
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| Approval of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan to treat outstanding pre-funded warrants the same as outstanding shares of Common Stock for purposes of calculating the number of shares to be automatically added to the share reserve thereunder pursuant to the “evergreen” feature of the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan | | |
22
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| | Affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on this matter, voting affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes). | | |
“For”
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| Approval of an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan to treat outstanding pre-funded warrants the same as outstanding shares of Common Stock for purposes of calculating the number of shares to be automatically added to the share reserve thereunder pursuant to the “evergreen” feature of the 2024 Employee Stock Purchase Plan | | |
30
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| | Affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on this matter, voting affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes). | | |
“For”
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| | | Internet proxy voting will be provided to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your internet access, such as usage charges from internet access providers and telephone companies. | | |
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Name of Director Nominee
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Class
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Age
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Position
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Raymond Sanchez, M.D.
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| | | | II | | | | | | 65 | | | | | | Director | | |
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Gwill York
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| | | | II | | | | | | 69 | | | | | | Director | | |
A Vote In Favor Of The Named Nominees.
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Name of Director
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Class
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Age
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Position
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Term
Expires |
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Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
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III
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49
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President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the Board
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2027
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Christopher Nixon Cox
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III
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47
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| | Lead Independent Director | | |
2027
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Andrew Dreyfus
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I
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67
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| | Director | | |
2028
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Husseini Manji, M.D.
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I
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67
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| | Director | | |
2028
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Name
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Audit
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Compensation and
Management Development |
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Nominating and
Corporate Governance |
| |||||||||
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Christopher Nixon Cox
|
| | | | X | | | | | | X* | | | | | | X | | |
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Andrew Dreyfus
|
| | | | X | | | | | | X | | | | | | | | |
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Husseini Manji, M.D.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X* | | |
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Raymond Sanchez, M.D.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | X | | |
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Gwill York
|
| | | | X* | | | | | | X | | | | | | | | |
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Total meetings in fiscal year 2025
|
| | | | 5 | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | 3 | | |
Mr. Christopher Nixon Cox
Mr. Andrew Dreyfus
|
Name
|
| |
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash ($)(1) |
| |
Option Awards
($)(2) |
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Total
($) |
| |||||||||
|
Po Yu (Jeff) Chen, Ph.D.*
|
| | | | 19,747 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 19,747 | | |
|
Christopher Nixon Cox
|
| | | | 4,390 | | | | | | 106,153 | | | | | | 110,543 | | |
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Andrew Dreyfus
|
| | | | 54,000 | | | | | | 26,263 | | | | | | 80,263 | | |
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Husseini Manji, M.D.
|
| | | | 1,929 | | | | | | 71,200 | | | | | | 73,129 | | |
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Maha Radhakrishnan, M.D.*
|
| | | | 17,906 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 17,906 | | |
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Raymond Sanchez, M.D.
|
| | | | 8,682 | | | | | | 76,222 | | | | | | 84,904 | | |
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Gwill York
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 88,178 | | | | | | 88,178 | | |
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Name
|
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Shares Underlying
Outstanding Options as of December 31, 2025 |
| |||
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Po Yu (Jeff) Chen, Ph.D.*
|
| | | | — | | |
|
Christopher Nixon Cox
|
| | | | 75,720 | | |
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Andrew Dreyfus
|
| | | | 68,342 | | |
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Husseini Manji, M.D.
|
| | | | 63,139 | | |
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Maha Radhakrishnan, M.D.*
|
| | | | — | | |
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Raymond Sanchez, M.D.
|
| | | | 34,502 | | |
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Gwill York
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| | | | 113,463 | | |
650 Castro Street, Suite 450
Mountain View, CA 94041
Attn: Corporate Secretary
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Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
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Fee Category
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2025
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2024
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Audit fees(1)
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| | | $ | 891,805 | | | | | $ | 1,509,739 | | |
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Audit-related fees(2)
|
| | | | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | |
|
Tax fees(3)
|
| | | | 64,800 | | | | | | 32,400 | | |
|
All other fees(4)
|
| | | | 1,895 | | | | | | 1,895 | | |
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Total fees
|
| | | $ | 958,500 | | | | | $ | 1,544,034 | | |
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 2.
INCENTIVE PLAN
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Name and Position
|
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Number of
Options |
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Number of
Restricted Stock Units |
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Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the
Board |
| | | | 744,000 | | | | | | 34,711 | | |
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Nicholas Smith, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer
|
| | | | 425,000 | | | | | | 19,153 | | |
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Michael Hanley, Chief Operating Officer
|
| | | | 452,000 | | | | | | 0 | | |
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All current executive officers as a group (4 persons)
|
| | | | 1,894,000 | | | | | | 53,864 | | |
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All current non-employee directors as a group (5 persons)
|
| | | | 308,190 | | | | | | 0 | | |
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All employees, including all current officers who are not executive officers, as a
group |
| | | | 2,795,722 | | | | | | 0 | | |
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 3.
OF THE 2024 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF PROPOSAL 4.
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Name
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Age
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Position(s)
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|
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Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
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49
|
| |
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the Board
|
|
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Nicholas Smith
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37
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| | Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer | |
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Michael Hanley
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53
|
| | Chief Operating Officer | |
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Adam Savitz, M.D., Ph.D.
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60
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| | Chief Medical Officer | |
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Beneficial Ownership
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Beneficial Owner
|
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Number of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
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Percentage of
Shares Beneficially Owned |
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| Greater than 5% Holders | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Alpha Wave Ventures II, LP(1)
|
| | | | 3,707,757 | | | | | | 11.61% | | |
|
Entities affiliated with Commodore Capital LP(2)
|
| | | | 3,343,206 | | | | | | 9.99% | | |
|
Entities affiliated with Perceptive Advisors LLC(3)
|
| | | | 3,347,512 | | | | | | 9.99% | | |
|
Entities affiliated with Point72 Asset Management(4)
|
| | | | 2,824,275 | | | | | | 8.69% | | |
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Vestal Point Capital LP(5)
|
| | | | 2,485,000 | | | | | | 7.78% | | |
|
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.(6)
|
| | | | 1,786,743 | | | | | | 5.50% | | |
| Directors and Named Executive Officers: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.(6)
|
| | | | 1,786,743 | | | | | | 5.50% | | |
|
Nicholas Smith(7)
|
| | | | 464,482 | | | | | | 1.43% | | |
|
Michael Hanley(8)
|
| | | | 137,146 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Christopher Nixon Cox(9)
|
| | | | 785,527 | | | | | | 2.45% | | |
|
Andrew Dreyfus(10)
|
| | | | 57,577 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Husseini Manji, M.D.(11)
|
| | | | 56,553 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Raymond Sanchez, M.D.(12)
|
| | | | 12,524 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Gwill York(13)
|
| | | | 131,048 | | | | | | * | | |
|
All executive officers and directors as a group (9 persons)(14)
|
| | | | 3,791,743 | | | | | | 11.25% | | |
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Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary
($) |
| |
Bonus
($)(1) |
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Stock
Awards ($)(2) |
| |
Option
Awards ($)(2) |
| |
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation ($) |
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All Other
Compensation ($)(3) |
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Total
($) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair of the Board |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | | 650,671 | | | | | | 220,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 934,186 | | | | | | 358,072 | | | | | | 25,558 | | | | | | 2,188,487 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 603,050 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 516,500 | | | | | | 2,553,350 | | | | | | 368,401 | | | | | | 24,547 | | | | | | 4,065,848 | | | ||
|
Nicholas Smith
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | | 493,720 | | | | | | 220,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 594,723 | | | | | | 222,300 | | | | | | 10,842 | | | | | | 1,541,585 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 466,511 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 284,997 | | | | | | 1,030,500 | | | | | | 203,300 | | | | | | 10,656 | | | | | | 1,995,964 | | | ||
|
Michael Hanley
Chief Operating Officer |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | | 488,800 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 517,598 | | | | | | 195,520 | | | | | | 11,010 | | | | | | 1,212,928 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | | 283,205 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,876,263 | | | | | | 201,160 | | | | | | 82,000 | | | | | | 2,442,628 | | | ||
| | | |
Company matching
contributions under 401(k) plan |
| |
Term Life
Insurance Premiums |
| |
Other
|
| |
Total
|
| ||||||||||||
|
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
|
| | | $ | 10,500 | | | | | $ | 8,684 | | | | | $ | 6,374(a) | | | | | $ | 25,558 | | |
|
Nicholas Smith
|
| | | $ | 10,500 | | | | | $ | 342 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 10,842 | | |
|
Michael Hanley
|
| | | $ | 10,500 | | | | | $ | 510 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 11,010 | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Option Awards(1)
|
| |
Stock Awards
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Name
|
| |
Grant Date
|
| |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable |
| |
Number of
Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable |
| |
Option
Exercise Price ($)(2) |
| |
Option
Expiration Date |
| |
Number
of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) |
| |
Market
Value of Shares of Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(3) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chair |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9/27/2021 | | | | | | 157,367 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2.32 | | | | | | 9/26/2031 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 4/14/2023 | | | | | | 25,243 | | | | | | 9,377(4) | | | | | | 6.23(5) | | | | | | 4/13/2033 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 12/20/2023 | | | | | | 164,859 | | | | | | 82,431(6) | | | | | | 5.30(5) | | | | | | 12/19/2033 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 3/1/2024 | | | | | | 97,563 | | | | | | 125,437(7) | | | | | | 14.88(5) | | | | | | 2/28/2034 | | | | | | 17,355(8) | | | | | | 308,919 | | | ||
| | | | 2/5/2025 | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 215,000(9) | | | | | | 4.20(5) | | | | | | 2/4/2035 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
|
Nicholas Smith
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9/9/2021 | | | | | | 112,405 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2.32 | | | | | | 9/8/2031 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 9/27/2021 | | | | | | 22,481 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2.32 | | | | | | 9/26/2031 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 9/22/2022 | | | | | | 36,531 | | | | | | 8,431(10) | | | | | | 6.23(11)(5) | | | | | | 9/21/2032 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 4/14/2023 | | | | | | 24,670 | | | | | | 9,163(4) | | | | | | 6.23(5) | | | | | | 4/13/2033 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 12/20/2023 | | | | | | 134,886 | | | | | | 67,443(6) | | | | | | 5.30(5) | | | | | | 12/19/2033 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 3/1/2024 | | | | | | 39,375 | | | | | | 50,625(7) | | | | | | 14.88(5) | | | | | | 2/28/2034 | | | | | | 9,576(8) | | | | | | 170,453 | | | ||
| | | | 2/5/2025 | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 135,000(9) | | | | | | 4.20 | | | | | | 2/4/2035 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
|
Michael Hanley
Chief Operating Officer |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3/1/2024 | | | | | | 8,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | 14.88(5) | | | | | | 2/28/2034 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 5/20/2024 | | | | | | 74,417 | | | | | | 113,583(12) | | | | | | 12.40(5) | | | | | | 5/19/2034 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
| | | | 2/5/2025 | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | 125,000(9) | | | | | | 4.20 | | | | | | 2/4/2035 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | ||
|
Plan Category
|
| |
Number of securities to
be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) |
| |
Weighted-average exercise
price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
| |
Number of securities remaining
available for issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
| |||||||||
|
Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders
|
| | | | 5,263,131(1) | | | | | $ | 6.85(2) | | | | | | 1,145,007(3) | | |
|
Equity compensation
plans not approved by stockholders(4) |
| | | | 150,000 | | | | | $ | 12.80 | | | | | | 350,000 | | |
|
Total
|
| | | | 5,413,131 | | | | | $ | 7.02 | | | | | | 1,495,007 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Shares of
Common Stock (#) |
| |
Total Purchase
Price ($) |
| ||||||
|
Entities affiliated with Steven A. Cohen(1)
|
| | | | 1,025,000 | | | | | | 16,400,000 | | |
|
Alpha Wave Ventures II, LP(2)
|
| | | | 600,000 | | | | | | 9,600,000 | | |
|
Entities affiliated with InVivium Capital(3)
|
| | | | 56,250 | | | | | | 900,000 | | |
|
Robert L. Friedman 2003 Long-Term Trust fbo Lisa Savitz(4)
|
| | | | 17,000 | | | | | | 272,000 | | |
|
Robert L. Friedman 2003 Long-Term Trust fbo Andrew Friedman(5)
|
| | | | 17,000 | | | | | | 272,000 | | |
|
Amit Etkin, M.D., Ph.D.
|
| | | | 3,125 | | | | | | 50,000 | | |
|
Dan Segal(6)
|
| | | | 1,563 | | | | | | 25,008 | | |
|
Nicholas Smith
|
| | | | 1,563 | | | | | | 25,008 | | |
|
Oran Etkin(7)
|
| | | | 938 | | | | | | 15,008 | | |
|
Alison Savitz & David Glass(8)
|
| | | | 625 | | | | | | 10,000 | | |
| Total | | | | | 1,723,064 | | | | | | 27,569,024 | | |
| | | | | By Order of the Board of Directors | |
| | | | |
Erin R. McQuade
General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer Corporate Secretary |
|
2024 Equity Incentive Plan
Approved by the Stockholders: January 25, 2024
Amended by the Board of Directors: March 16, 2026
Approved by the Stockholders: January 25, 2024
Amended by the Board of Directors: March 16, 2026