1. PSTV expands its team for CNSide Diagnostics with new hires. 2. Company aims for a $6 billion market in CNS diagnostics. 3. New hires strengthen lab operations and regulatory compliance. 4. Plans in place for national launch and payor agreement expansion. 5. Equity grants align interests between new hires and shareholders.
FAQ
Why Bullish?
The expansion of the team and market opportunities could enhance PSTV's growth prospects. Historically, similar expansions in biotech have led to stock price appreciation, particularly when linked to operational scaling.
How important is it?
The news directly impacts PSTV’s operational capabilities and growth medium. The hiring strategy indicates a commitment to increasing market share and enhancing product offerings.
Why Long Term?
Successful scaling and market penetration will take time. Previous instances show long-term value creation following initial growth strategies in biotech firms.
Plus Therapeutics Expands CNSide Team with Key Hires and Inducement Grant Issuance
HOUSTON, Dec. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTV), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, today announced the strategic expansion of its CNSide Diagnostics, LLC team with two new key hires. This growth aims to enhance the company’s capabilities in developing targeted radiotherapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) cancers, particularly as it prepares for a market launch.
Strategic Team Expansion for CNSide Diagnostics
Plus Therapeutics is enhancing its operational capabilities to target the significant U.S. market for CNSide cerebrospinal fluid assays, which is valued at over **$6 billion**. Russ Bradley, President and General Manager of CNSide Diagnostics, stated, “We are strategically building the team to bolster our capabilities as we scale up our laboratory operations to address the largely untapped U.S. addressable market for CNSide cerebrospinal fluid assay for metastatic CNS cancers, all the while maintaining the highest quality standards.”
The new hires include:
- Prem Gurnani: Senior Director of Lab Operations and Systems Implementation, bringing over 16 years of experience in diagnostics and regulatory compliance.
- Elaine Luckey: Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs, with more than 20 years of expertise in quality systems and regulatory compliance within laboratory environments.
Inducement Grants to New Team Members
In conjunction with these hires, Plus Therapeutics issued stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs) on December 4, 2025, as part of its 2015 New Employee Incentive Plan to comply with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). Both Mr. Gurnani and Ms. Luckey were awarded options to purchase up to **33,750 shares** of the company’s stock, with an exercise price equal to the closing stock price on the grant date.
The vesting schedule for these options is structured over four years, with one-fourth vesting on the first anniversary and the remainder vesting in 36 equal monthly installments. The grants included **11,250 RSUs** each, set to vest over three years, with a third vesting on January 1, 2027, followed by quarterly vesting thereafter.
Aligning Interests with Stakeholders
Plus Therapeutics believes that these equity grants will align the interests of Mr. Gurnani and Ms. Luckey with those of the company’s shareholders. The equity awards were structured consistently with the terms found in the company’s 2020 Incentive Plan. A Form S-8 has been filed to cover these equity awards.
About CNSide Diagnostics, LLC
CNSide Diagnostics, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plus Therapeutics, specializes in developing proprietary laboratory tests aimed at identifying tumor cells that have metastasized to the CNS in patients with various cancers. The CNSide® CSF Assay platform offers quantitative analysis that aids in managing patients with leptomeningeal metastases, supporting better clinical outcomes.
For more information, visit CNSide Diagnostics.
About Plus Therapeutics
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Plus Therapeutics, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing treatment for difficult-to-treat CNS cancers through targeted radiotherapeutics. The company integrates advanced drug delivery methods and has built a robust supply chain to support the development and potential commercialization of its innovative products.
For more information, visit Plus Therapeutics.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement includes forward-looking statements under U.S. securities laws, concerning the market potential for CNSide and upcoming payor agreements. Such statements depend on management's perceptions of historical trends and current conditions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including regulatory challenges and market competition. For a detailed overview of these risks, please review the company’s SEC filings.