BOSTON, May  19, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aura Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:AURA) (&#34;Aura&#34; or the &#34;Company&#34;), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapies for solid tumors designed to preserve organ

AURA

Aura Biosciences Announces Inducement Grants under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Aura Biosciences Grants Significant Equity Awards to New CEO

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>BOSTON, May  19, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aura Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:AURA) (&amp;#34;Aura&amp;#34; or the &amp;#34;Company&amp;#34;), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapies for solid tumors designed to preserve organ</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Aura Biosciences has granted substantial equity awards to new CEO Natalie Holles as part of her induction. This move aligns with the company&#039;s aim to drive growth in precision therapies for solid tumors, which may strengthen investor confidence in future performance.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Natalie Holles granted substantial equity awards as new CEO.</li><li>Inducement Awards include stock options and performance-based RSUs.</li><li>Holles&#039; awards align with solid growth and operational sustainability.</li><li>Aura&#039;s primary focus is on precision therapies for solid tumors.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Aura Biosciences (AURA)</strong>: Recent equity awards signal a commitment to strategic leadership amidst development efforts.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>This development fits within &#039;Corporate Developments&#039; as it reflects operational strategy and executive incentives critical for driving next stages in clinical growth.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Equity awards could motivate CEO Holles to drive operational success.</li><li>Stock options priced at $7.39 could incentivize performance improvements.</li><li>Upcoming clinical developments in oncology may impact stock sentiment positively.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Natalie Holles granted 2,169,103 stock options at $7.39 per share.</li><li>RSUs include 600,118 shares; PRSUs for 553,844 shares.</li><li>The option award vests over four years, promoting long-term performance.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Consider AURA as a potential buy, anticipating positive momentum from executive leadership.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p align="justify">BOSTON, May  19, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=0Oi_icZE31LdFVNj18KIKH00SfIHMrsM7j1IbOz7JxHMebHCvFeLGykvYQF1byrDOx0ZhZzjJRrVQFt2qh35B5VHSje4IWZ2711XjMc1-AOpzeThysMi_vfWl0OOVECu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>Aura Biosciences, Inc.</u></a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AURA">AURA</a>) ("Aura" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing precision therapies for solid tumors designed to preserve organ function, today announced that inducement equity awards (collectively, "Inducement Awards") were granted to Natalie Holles, Aura's new Chief Executive Officer and President, on May 19, 2026 (the "Grant Date"). The Inducement Awards are consistent with the previously disclosed terms of Ms. Holles' offer letter and were approved by the Board of Directors of the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).</p>  <p align="left">The Inducement Awards consist of (i) non-qualified stock options to purchase an aggregate of 2,169,103 shares of the Company's common stock ("Common Stock") with an exercise price of $7.39 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq on the Grant Date (the "Option Award"), (ii) restricted stock units ("RSUs") for 600,118 shares of Common Stock, and (iii) performance-based RSUs ("PRSUs") for 553,844 shares of Common Stock. The Option Award will vest as follows: 25% shall vest and become exercisable on April 30, 2027, and 2.0834% shall vest and become exercisable on a monthly basis thereafter over the following 36 months, subject to Ms. Holles' continued service as of each vesting date. The RSUs will vest as follows: 25% shall vest on April 15, 2027 (the "First Vesting Date"), and 25% shall vest on each of the first year anniversary, second year anniversary, and third year anniversary of the First Vesting Date, subject to Ms. Holles' continued service as of each vesting date. The PRSUs will be subject to both time-based vesting and the achievement of a performance condition, both of which must be satisfied before the PRSUs will be deemed vested. The PRSUs shall vest in four substantially equal annual installments commencing on the First Vesting Date, subject to Ms. Holles' continued service as of each such time-based vesting date and the satisfaction of the performance condition. The expiration date of the PRSUs shall be the earlier of (i) the sixth (6th) anniversary of the Grant Date and (ii) the date Ms. Holles no longer has a service relationship with the Company. Any such PRSUs that have not vested on or prior to such expiration date shall be forfeited for no consideration.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>About Aura Biosciences</strong></p>  <p align="justify">Aura Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing precision therapies for solid tumors that aim to preserve organ function. Aura's lead candidate, bel-sar (AU-011), is currently in late-stage development for early choroidal melanoma and in early-stage development in other ocular oncology indications and bladder cancer. Aura is headquartered in Boston, MA. Aura's mission is to grow as an innovative global oncology company that positively transforms the lives of patients.</p>  <p align="justify">For more information, visit <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=jMOdoCRYsNI01l0SvbrTH-QyI96ATLUrJMW8Wl7utRQKKc6y9JFzQtMiqc_I8252feT9ThP0uUj_5ZQUutfzFuF36xiSaXu1n8_yhkkRw4s=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>aurabiosciences.com</u></a>. Follow us on X, @AuraBiosciences, and visit us on LinkedIn.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>Investor and Media Relations Contact:</strong></p>  <p align="justify">Alex Dasalla</p>  <p align="justify">Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications</p>  <p align="justify"><u><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=m9TBECNvoBZnosvM5YOtQ8u9vCyEBRfFilxvK6Jf1uLw_nNjJz983EF18iz0qzUgVn3g3WLUUwYSzEEnULptRtrp0cadMTvOUwHsC9bcm80=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IR@aurabiosciences.com</a></u></p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTcyMzM4NCM3NjEyMTIxIzUwMDEyNDI2MA=="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/YzQ5MDAxZTUtMmZjNi00OGIzLWI4OGQtN2M5N2Y3Y2FiNWViLTUwMDEyNDI2MC0yMDI2LTA1LTE5LWVu/tiny/Aura-Biosciences-Inc-.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/92103c30-8e5a-4502-9ec4-0f3b3bd9bb83"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/92103c30-8e5a-4502-9ec4-0f3b3bd9bb83/small/aura-biosciences-1c-orange-large-jpg.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="38" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a></p>

Aura Biosciences has granted substantial equity awards to new CEO Natalie Holles as part of her induction. This move aligns with the company's aim to drive growth in precision therapies for solid tumors, which may strengthen investor confidence in future performance.

Aura Biosciences Announces Inducement Grants under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Corporate Developments

Related News