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Zymeworks Inc

For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 5, 2025.

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A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2024 · Filed Mar 5, 2025

ZYME$30.81+4.0%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

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Contents

Item 11. Executive Compensation

Discussion of Executive Compensation Practices

This section describes our executive compensation philosophy and how we implemented it through our 2024 compensation program for our named executive officers. The named executive officers for 2024 are:

Kenneth Galbraith, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of the Board of Directors;

Leone Patterson, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer; and

Paul Moore, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer.

This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations and projections regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs adopted in the future may differ materially from the various planned programs summarized in this discussion.

In the paragraphs that follow, we provide an overview and analysis of our compensation program and policies, the material compensation decisions we have made under those programs and policies, and the material factors that we considered in making those decisions.

2024 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

At our 2024 annual general meeting, we conducted an advisory vote on named executive officer compensation. At that meeting, 93.33% of the votes cast on the advisory vote proposal were supportive of our named executive officer compensation program as disclosed in our 2024 proxy statement. Our next advisory vote on named executive officer compensation will be held at our 2025 annual general meeting.

The compensation committee reviewed the advisory vote results in the context of our overall compensation philosophy and programs, and based on the level of support, determined that no significant changes to our compensation policies and programs were necessary. The compensation committee will continue to consider the results from future stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation and other relevant market developments affecting named executive officer compensation in order to determine whether any subsequent changes to our named executive officer compensation programs and policies would be warranted to reflect any stockholder concerns reflected in those advisory votes or to address market developments. We frequently engage in stockholder outreach and discuss a wide range of topics, including discussions regarding compensation-related matters. We take our say-on-pay vote results seriously and will continue to consider the feedback we receive from stockholders and use such feedback to inform the compensation committee’s deliberations and decisions with respect to our executive compensation practices.

Overview of Compensation Program

Compensation Philosophy

The goal of our compensation program is to attract, retain and motivate our employees and executives, including our named executive officers. The compensation committee is responsible for setting our executive compensation and reviewing and approving, or recommending to the board of directors for approval, the Company’s annual corporate performance objectives applicable to executive and other Company bonus programs. In considering executive compensation, the compensation committee strives to ensure that our total compensation is competitive within the industry in which we operate and supports our overall strategy and corporate objectives. The combination of base salary, annual incentives and long-term incentives that we provide our executives is designed to accomplish this.

Compensation Objectives

The objectives of our executive compensation program are to:

attract and retain highly qualified executive officers who have a history of proven success;

align the interests of executive officers with our stockholders’ interests and with the execution of our business strategy;

motivate and reward our executive officers through competitive pay practices and an appropriate mix of short- and long-term incentives;

evaluate and reward executive performance on the basis of achievement of program development goals and key financial measurements which we believe closely correlate to long-term stockholder value; and

tie compensation awards directly to program development goals and key financial measurements with evaluations based on achieving and overachieving predetermined objectives.

Role of the Compensation Committee

During 2024, the compensation committee’s work included the following:

Competitive Compensation Review – The compensation committee reviewed compensation practices and policies with respect to our executives against Zymeworks’ peer group of companies (as further described below), in order to allow us to place our compensation practices for these positions in a market context. This reference exercise included a review of base salary, total cash compensation and total direct compensation.

Executive Compensation – The compensation committee reviewed the corporate goals and objectives applicable to the compensation of the Company’s executives and evaluated the executives’ performance in light of those goals and objectives. Based on this review and evaluation, the compensation committee approved the 2024 compensation for the Company’s executives, including each of the named executive officers.

Short- and Long-Term Incentive Plans – The compensation committee administers the Company’s incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans with respect to the Company’s executives, including the named executive officers.

Succession Planning – The compensation committee reviewed the succession plan for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers.

In reaching its decisions, the compensation committee may consider input from management and other factors that the compensation committee considers appropriate. Decisions made by the compensation committee are the responsibility of the compensation committee and may reflect factors and considerations other than the information and/or recommendations provided by management.

Independent Compensation Consultant

In 2024, the compensation committee retained the Human Capital Solutions practice at Aon plc, as an independent consultant to the compensation committee to conduct competitive reviews and assessments of Zymeworks’ executive compensation program and recommend go-forward strategies. The compensation committee made the decision to retain Aon in its sole discretion and was directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of Aon’s work. The compensation committee is involved in and approves the adoption of the following procedures during Aon’s assessments:

establishing the public company peer group used in the executive compensation assessment;

reviewing the detailed assessment of Zymeworks’ executive compensation program versus the market;

reviewing and approving executive pay mix;

reviewing the assessment of Zymeworks’ board of directors compensation program versus the market; and

reviewing and approving the non-executive equity compensation program.

The compensation committee utilizes these strategies when contemplating future executive compensation matters.

In 2024, Aon was retained to review the salaries, bonuses and equity plan levels and participation of executive employees, as well as equity plan levels and participation of employees below the executive level. Zymeworks’ management did not make or recommend such engagements and all such other services were approved by the compensation committee. Except as discussed below, Aon did not perform other services to the Company other than as a compensation consultant. The compensation committee determined Aon to be independent after evaluating the factors required under the applicable listing standard.

In addition to Aon’s services related to determining or recommending the amount or form of executive and non-employee director compensation, management has engaged Aon to perform unrelated broad-based compensation services and risk brokerage services (which included global risk in Canada and the United States). In 2024, fees paid to Aon for these unrelated broad-based compensation and risk brokerage services did not exceed $120,000 in the aggregate. The compensation committee was informed about these services.

Peer Companies and Use of Market Data

We compare our executive compensation program to those of a group of peer companies (North American biotechnology companies of a similar size and stage of development). The first step in the process is that the compensation committee, with the support of Aon and management, reviews trends in biotechnology compensation practices and reviews and approves the list of peer companies used for benchmarking. As part of its analysis in 2023 related to 2024 compensation, Aon collected and analyzed compensation information from a comparative group of biotechnology companies, or peer group, approved by the compensation committee. The compensation committee evaluates the criteria used in establishing the peer group at least annually. The compensation committee seeks input from management in addition to Aon to ensure the peer group is consistent with our current business objectives and strategy.

The list of peer companies is approved based on various factors including industry classification, market capitalization, headcount and stage of development. In September 2023, with assistance from Aon, the compensation committee approved a peer group consisting of publicly traded, pre-commercial biopharmaceutical companies:

with an emphasis on oncology companies and a focus on companies in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials;

with market capitalizations generally between $200 million and $1.5 billion (based on the Company’s then-current 30-day average market capitalization of approximately $495 million);

with generally between 100 and 700 employees; and

that are located in Canada and the United States, with a focus on companies headquartered in biotechnology hub markets.

Based on these criteria, in September 2023, the compensation committee approved the following peer group set forth below and used this peer group to inform compensation decisions for 2024:

Adaptimmune Therapeutics plcGossamer Bio, Inc.REGENXBIO Inc.
Alector, Inc.IGM Biosciences, Inc.Relay Therapeutics(1)
AnaptysBio, Inc.Iteos Therapeutics(1)Repare Therapeutics Inc.
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.Kura Oncology, Inc.Replimune Group, Inc.
Bicycle Therapeutics(1)MacroGenics, Inc.Sutro Biopharma, Inc.
C4 TherapeuticsMersana Therapeutics, Inc.Xencor(1)
Cogent Biosciences(1)NGM Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

(1) Added to the peer group in September 2023. The following companies were deleted from the peer group approved in September 2023: CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., Jounce Therapeutics, Inc., Poseida Therapeutics, Inc., Precision Biosciences and Silverback Therapeutics, Inc.

Our compensation committee uses comparative data from our peer group as a reference when setting and adjusting executive compensation, but it does not target our overall program or any particular element of compensation to be at a particular percentile compared to our peers. Rather, our compensation committee uses a range of peer group data for each executive position for which data is available, along with an assessment of each executive’s performance, criticality and tenure, to ensure that our executive compensation program and its constituent elements are and remain competitive in relation to our peers.

Components of Compensation Package

In 2024, our executive compensation program consisted of three major components:

base salary;

annual cash bonuses based on a comparison of corporate performance to pre-set goals and objectives; and

long-term incentives, which in 2024, consisted of grants of stock options and restricted stock units.

In making 2024 compensation decisions, our compensation committee believed that each component of executive compensation must be evaluated and determined with reference to competitive market data, individual and Company-wide performance, our recruiting and retention goals, internal equity and consistency, and other information it deems relevant. As it evaluated executive compensation in 2024, the compensation committee believed that in the biopharmaceutical/biotechnology industry, long-term incentives such as stock options and restricted stock units are a primary motivator in attracting and retaining executives, in addition to salary and cash incentive bonuses.

The primary components of our 2024 executive compensation program are described in more detail below.

Base Salary

Annual base salary is designed to provide a competitive fixed rate of pay recognizing different levels of responsibility and performance within Zymeworks. This compensation component helps us to attract and retain highly qualified executives who have a history of proven success. In determining whether to increase the base salary for a particular executive, our compensation committee in discussions with our Chief Executive Officer (for executives other than the Chief Executive Officer) considers a variety of factors, including performance, length of service and criticality of role. The determination of base salary affects the amount of an executive’s cash bonus. The table below shows the base salaries of our named executive officers for 2024:

Name and Principal Position2024 Base Salary($)
Kenneth Galbraith, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of Board of Directors(1)655,000
Leone Patterson, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer(2)485,000
Paul Moore, Chief Scientific Officer495,000

(1) Mr. Galbraith served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our board of directors throughout 2024. Mr. Galbraith also served as our interim Chief Financial Officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer from March 31, 2024 until September 1, 2024.

(2) Ms. Patterson has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer since September 1, 2024.

Cash Bonus

The cash bonus component is designed to provide our named executive officers with annual cash incentive awards based on achievement of certain goals and objectives. The awards represent pay at risk – they result in payment only if and to the extent certain goals and objectives are met – and do not affect decisions regarding other components of compensation. This compensation component motivates and rewards our named executive officers for outstanding performance. In addition, we occasionally provide sign-on bonuses to newly hired executives in order to induce them to join the Company. To this end, the Company provided Ms. Patterson with a $50,000 sign-on bonus, which is subject to repayment in full if, prior to September 1, 2025, Ms. Patterson voluntarily leaves the Company for any reason or is terminated by us for cause (as defined in her employment agreement with us).

Annual cash incentive compensation for our named executive officers is paid pursuant to the Company’s Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, which provides the compensation committee discretion to make changes to performance targets and bonus targets, to decrease, increase or eliminate bonuses and to change other terms and conditions related to annual incentive compensation, in each case as the compensation committee deems appropriate to meet the overarching retention and incentive goals associated with our executive bonus program.

Named executive officers are eligible to receive an amount targeted at a pre-determined percentage of their base salary established at the beginning of each year. The compensation committee set annual target bonuses for each of Mr. Galbraith and Dr. Moore in January 2024, and for Ms. Patterson in July 2024 at the time of her acceptance of the offer to become the Company’s Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as follows:

Name and Principal Position2024 Target Bonus (% of Base Salary)
Kenneth Galbraith, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of Board of Directors(1)60%
Leone Patterson, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer(2)45%
Paul Moore, Chief Scientific Officer45%

(1) Mr. Galbraith served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our board of directors throughout 2024. Mr. Galbraith also served as our interim Chief Financial Officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer from March 31, 2024 until September 1, 2024.

(2) Per Ms. Patterson’s employment agreement with the Company, Ms. Patterson was eligible to receive an annual bonus for 2024 that was prorated for the six-month period from July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.

At the beginning of each year, the compensation committee approves, or recommends that the board of directors approve, performance targets that are tied to the level of achievement of corporate and/or individual goals, and the compensation committee approves the weighting assigned to each goal. For 2024, the corporate and individual weighting was 100% corporate and 0% individual for all named executive officers. Achievement of corporate goals was a precondition for payment of bonuses with respect to 2024. Our compensation committee believed that this mix was appropriate in order to incentivize our management team to achieve our key corporate objectives.

After the end of the year, the compensation committee determines the performance bonus payable to each named executive officer based on the results achieved as compared to the performance targets established for a particular year. Depending on level of achievement, named executive officers may earn up to 150% of their respective target bonuses. There is no minimum bonus payable.

2024 Company Corporate Goals and Achievement

In December 2023, the board of directors (with input from members of the compensation committee) approved, and in January 2024, the members of the compensation committee updated, corporate goals for 2024 that were grouped into six main categories: (i) zanidatamab via the Jazz Partnership, (ii) zanidatamab via the BeiGene Partnership, (iii) early R&D (clinical), (iv) early R&D (preclinical), (v) ADVANCE and (vi) financing and partnerships. In addition, the leadership team had a seventh stretch goal relating to achievement of standards relating to corporate culture.

In January 2025, the compensation committee reviewed our performance against the corporate goals under the 2024 bonus plan, and determined that these goals were achieved at the 91.5% level. Additional detail on these goals and the assessed achievement is set forth in the table below:

2024 Corporate Goal CategoryKey Elements of GoalTarget Weight of GoalAssessed Achievement
Zanidatamab via the Jazz PartnershipReceive BLA approval of zanidatamab for the treatment of second-line BTC and recognize corresponding $25 million milestone payment.20% for base goals; an additional 7% for stretch goals23%
Advance clinical trials of zanidatamab, including:•complete enrollment of HERIZON-GEA-01;•first patient enrolled in Phase 3 confirmatory trial for zanidatamab in first-line BTC;•no material disruption to clinical drug supply of zanidatamab for any studies being conducted by Jazz;•GMP inspection readiness; and•start FDA interactions for a third indication.
Presentation of data.
First commercial sale of zanidatamab for second-line BTC.
Zanidatamab via the BeiGene PartnershipAdvance clinical trials of zanidatamab, including:•no material disruption to clinical drug supply of zanidatamab for any studies being conducted by BeiGene; and•GMP inspection readiness.5% for base goals; an additional 3% for stretch goals5%
Recognition of revenue.
First commercial sale of zanidatamab for second-line BTC.
Receive approval of zanidatamab for the treatment of second-line BTC outside of China.
Early R&D (clinical)Advance various clinical trials of early-stage candidates, including:• dose escalation cohort completion; • first patient dosed; and• no material disruption to clinical drug supply.35% for base goals; an additional 19% for stretch goals36%
Successful interactions with U.S. and non-U.S. regulators, including IND submissions for ZW171 and ZW191.
Early R&D(preclinical)Goals relating to toxicology studies, including those relating to manufacturing and initiation or completion of non-human primate GLP studies.10% for base goals; an additional 2% for stretch goals12%
Selection of fifth IND candidate (ZW209).
ADVANCEGoals relating to preclinical development of potential product candidates.5% for base goals; an additional 5.5% for stretch goals5.5%
Financing and PartnershipSecuring additional financing, including through non-dilutive methods as well as related stretch goals.25% for base goals; an additional 13.5% for stretch goals—%
PeopleAchievement of standards relating to corporate culture.Stretch goal up to 10%10.0%
Total100% for base goals; bonuses capped at 150%91.5%

The Company performed well against its 2024 corporate goals with respect to (i) zanidatamab via the Jazz Partnership, (ii) zanidatamab via the BeiGene Partnership, (iii) early R&D (clinical), (iv) early R&D (preclinical), and (v) ADVANCE, as well as its people/corporate culture goal. The Company did not achieve its 2024 corporate goals with respect to financing and partnerships, given changes in the competitive landscape and financial markets impacting the timing of potential partnerships and financing opportunities. Given the Company’s strong overall performance against its 2024 corporate goals, the compensation committee determined that these goals were achieved at the 91.5% level and approved 2024 bonuses for our named executive officers as follows:

Name and Principal Position2024 Bonus($)(1)
Kenneth Galbraith, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of Board of Directors359,595
Leone Patterson, Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer99,849(2)
Paul Moore, Chief Scientific Officer203,816

(1) Bonus amounts for all named executive officers are determined in U.S. dollars, and the table above reflects this determination in U.S. dollars. However, the 2024 bonus for Dr. Moore was paid in Canadian dollars(C$293,251)and the 2024 bonus for Mr. Galbraith was paid in British pounds (GBP 282,990), in each case based on conversion rates in effect at the time of payment.

(2) Per Ms. Patterson’s employment agreement with the Company, Ms. Patterson was eligible to receive an annual bonus for 2024 that was prorated for the six-month period from July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024.

Long-Term Incentives

Our Amended and Restated Stock Option and Equity Compensation Plan (the “Equity Compensation Plan”) authorizes us to make grants to eligible recipients of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other share-based awards, to attract, retain, motivate and reward qualified directors and employees and to enable and encourage such directors and employees to acquire shares of common stock as long-term investments.

The Company granted a mix of stock options and restricted stock units to Mr. Galbraith and Dr. Moore in January 2024. The compensation committee believes this approach aligns the interests of our executives (including those of our named executive officers) with our stockholders’ interests by rewarding for improvements in stock price over a period of time. The Company issues stock options and restricted stock units to reward for future performance and appreciation. Because stock options only have value if our stock price increases relative to the stock option’s exercise price, we consider them to be an important performance-based tool that encourages our named executive officers to focus on driving increases to stockholder value. Restricted stock units play an important role in our executive compensation program because they provide some value even during periods of stock price or market volatilities, provide retention incentives during the vesting period, and reinforce a culture of ownership. By granting restricted stock units, the Company can also reduce the dilutive effect of the equity incentive awards in the form of stock options, which benefits our stockholders over time. In addition, the vesting feature of our stock awards contributes to executive retention by providing an incentive to our executives to remain employed by us during the vesting period. For 2024, we determined that annual grants to Mr. Galbraith and Dr. Moore in the form of an approximately 50/50 value mix of stock options and restricted stock units was most appropriate to reflect the continued change in the market and the evolution of our compensation program away from an options-only approach. The compensation committee evaluates the long-term incentive programs for each year, and the appropriate mix of equity awards to grant to our executive officers for the applicable year. In future years or for particular executives, the compensation committee may approve a different mix of equity awards if it determines necessary or appropriate to achieve our compensation objectives.

After considering its compensation objectives and negotiations with Ms. Patterson regarding her joining the Company, the compensation committee approved an initial award of stock options for Ms. Patterson shortly after her commencement of employment with the Company. The compensation committee believed that awarding Ms. Patterson’s initial equity grant solely in the form of options, consistent with its past practice with respect to the hiring of executives, would provide Ms. Patterson with strong incentives to increase stockholder value, and that given her role as our Chief Business and Financial Officer, this was appropriate for her new hire award. For 2025, the compensation committee has granted Ms. Patterson’s annual equity awards in a combination of options and restricted stock units in the same proportions as our other named executive officers, to balance the performance-based incentives of stock options, with the retention, reward and culture of ownership benefits of restricted stock units.

For the stock options, the option exercise price may not be less than the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. For the 2024 stock option grants to our named executive officers, 25% of the granted options is scheduled to vest on the first anniversary of grant date (subject to continued service and any applicable acceleration of vesting provisions in their employment agreements, as described below). On the last day of each month thereafter, a further 1/36 th of the total number of remaining granted options is scheduled to vest. These options are subject to any applicable acceleration provisions in the Equity Compensation Plan or in the named executive officer’s employment agreement.

Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of our common stock upon vesting of that unit, without the payment of an exercise price or other cash consideration for the issued shares of common stock. For the 2024 restricted stock unit grants to Mr. Galbraith and Dr. Moore, 1/3 rd of the restricted stock units are scheduled to vest on each anniversary of the grant date (subject to the named executive officer’s continued service and subject to any applicable acceleration provisions in the Equity Compensation Plan or in the named executive officer’s employment agreement).

The following table shows information regarding stock option and restricted stock unit grants to each of our named executive officers made during the year ended December 31, 2024:

NameGrant DateRestricted Stock Units Granted(#)(1)Stock Options Granted(#)(2)Exercise Price of Stock Options($/Sh)(3)Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)(4)
Kenneth Galbraith1/5/2024—300,00010.561,985,672
1/5/2024200,000——2,112,000
Leone Patterson9/1/2024—360,00011.732,590,403
Paul Moore1/5/2024—90,00010.56595,702
1/5/202460,000——633,600

(1) Restricted stock units vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 5, 2025, subject to the recipient’s continued service through each vesting date and any applicable acceleration of vesting provisions described under the section below entitled “Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

(2) Options vest and become exercisable with respect to (i) 25% of the underlying shares one year after the grant date and (ii) the remainder of the underlying shares in 36 equal monthly installments following the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the optionee’s continued service through each vesting date and any applicable acceleration of vesting provisions described under the section below entitled “Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

(3) The exercise price of the stock options is the closing price of the Company’s stock on the Nasdaq on the grant date.

(4) The amounts set forth in this column reflect the grant date fair value for restricted stock unit awards and stock option awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. See Note 2 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Stock-Based Compensation”and Note 10(f) “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Stockholders’ Equity – Stock-Based Compensation” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for our year ended December 31, 2024.

Previous grants are taken into account when considering new option and restricted stock unit grants, as well as other factors such as market data, retention and incentive considerations, internal equity, Company performance and prior and expected future individual contributions. Decisions regarding long-term incentives do not affect decisions regarding other components of compensation.

Benefits and Perquisites

Other compensation to our named executive officers primarily consists of participation in our broad-based employee benefit plans. Named executive officers are eligible to participate in all our employee benefit plans, in each case on the same basis as other employees in the entity in which they are employed, including a retirement savings plan for those employed in Canada, a 401(k) plan for those employed in the United States, and pension plans for those employed in Ireland and the UK. Our named executive officers also are eligible to participate in our employee stock purchase plan on the same terms as our other eligible employees.

Currently, we do not view perquisites or other personal benefits as a material component of our executive compensation program. However, we do provide certain perquisites to our named executive officers in situations where we believe it is appropriate to assist an individual in the performance of his or her duties, to make them more efficient and effective, and for recruitment and retention purposes.

In addition, consistent with our philosophy regarding personal benefits, and as further described in “Executive Compensation –Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control,” to encourage and facilitate Dr. Moore’s relocation to Canada, we provide him with certain reimbursements for relocation expenses, as well as a gross-up to make sure such payments are tax neutral to him, tax equalization payments to neutralize any increase in his taxes as a result of his relocation, and tax preparation assistance for two years following his relocation. In addition, prior to Dr. Moore’s relocation to Canada in 2023, we provided certain housing benefits to him to facilitate his ability to spend time at our Vancouver location. The compensation committee believes these benefits were appropriate to enable a smooth relocation for Dr. Moore and to allow him to keep his focus on the business rather than on the costs and burdens of the relocation.

We also provide certain personal benefits to Mr. Galbraith, which were negotiated as part of Mr. Galbraith’s initial January 2022 employment agreement and subsequent amendments, including the most recent amendment in January 2024. These benefits were provided in order to induce him to initially join and later to remain with the Company and to increase his ability to work efficiently. These benefits include certain housing, travel, relocation, and certain tax equalization and gross-up benefits, as described in “Executive Compensation – Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” In late 2022 and again in January 2024, we amended Mr. Galbraith’s employment agreement to extend the time period for certain benefits, as described in “Executive Compensation – Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” The compensation committee approved the extension of these benefits as it believed that doing so would assist Mr. Galbraith in the continued performance of his duties and continue to aid in his efficiency.

In the future, we may continue to provide perquisites or other personal benefits in circumstances where we believe it is appropriate to assist an individual named executive officer in the performance of his or her duties, to make him or her more efficient and effective, and for recruitment, motivation or retention purposes.

Anti-Hedging Policy

Under the terms of our Insider Trading Policy, all directors, officers, employees, as well as any other personnel that we determine should be subject to our Insider Trading Policy (such as certain contractors and consultants), any person or entity an insider controls, exercises substantial influence over, serves as a trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity of or is otherwise involved with, in connection with securities trading or investment decisions and an insider’s spouse, partner, parents, children, dependents and other family members or roommates, are prohibited from purchasing financial instruments (including, for greater certainty, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, or units of exchange funds) designed to hedge or offset a decrease in the market value of our securities. Any person covered by our Insider Trading Policy is prohibited from pledging Zymeworks securities as collateral for any loan, in margin accounts or as part of pledging transactions, regardless of whether such person is in possession of non-public material information. A copy of our insider trading policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

Certain of our executives, including each of our named executive officers, are parties to employment agreements with us which set forth conditions of employment and the payments that will be made upon termination of their employment. Additional discussion of the employment agreements with our named executive officers is set forth below under “Executive Compensation – Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.” We believe that these protections are necessary to provide our valuable named executive officers with incentives to forgo other employment opportunities and to maintain continued focus and dedication to their responsibilities to maximize stockholder value, including if there is a potential transaction that could involve a change in control, without undue concern that the officer will be terminated and lose his or her income and benefits. We believe the level of severance and change in control benefits provided is appropriate and is necessary to attract and retain key employees.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table presents the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each of our named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. We do not have non-qualified deferred compensation.

Name and Principal Position · Year · Salary($)(1) · Bonus ($)(1) · Stock Awards($)(2) · Option Awards($)(2) · Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation($)(1)(3) · All Other Compensation($)(1) · Total ($)
Kenneth Galbraith, CEO, President & Chair(4)2024654,833—2,112,0001,985,672361,652139,459(5)5,253,616
2023625,452—1,144,0001,194,627321,65189,146(6)3,374,876
Leone Patterson, Exec. VP, Chief Business Officer & CFO(7)2024161,66750,000—2,590,40399,8496,063(8)2,907,982
Paul Moore, CSO(9)2024494,683—633,600595,702214,10248,716(10)1,986,803
2023465,784—412,000397,571182,120224,762(11)1,682,237

(1) Salary, bonus, non-equity incentive plan compensation (cash bonus with respect to corporate goal achievement) and amounts in the “All Other Compensation” column for all named executive officers are determined in U.S. dollars. However, 2024 cash compensation amounts, and a portion of 2023 cash compensation amounts, for Dr. Moore were paid in Canadian dollars and have been converted to U.S. dollars for the purposes of the table. For 2024 and 2023, respectively, the U.S. dollar per Canadian dollar exchange rates used for such conversions were 0.7301 and 0.7410, which were the average annual Bank of Canada exchange rates for 2024 and 2023, respectively. Cash compensation amounts for Mr. Galbraith were paid in British pounds and have been converted to U.S. dollars for the purposes of the table. For 2024 and 2023 the U.S. dollar per British pound exchange rates used for such conversions were 1.2780 and 1.2437, which were the average annual Bank of Canada exchange rates for 2024 and 2023, respectively.

(2)The amounts set forth in these columns reflect the aggregate grant date fair value for restricted stock unit awards and option awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. See Note 2 to the“Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Stock-Based Compensation” and Note 10(f)“Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Shareholders’ Equity – Stock-Based Compensation” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for our year ended December 31, 2024.

(3) The amounts reflect the dollar value of incentive bonuses paid in 2025 and 2024 for performance during 2024 and 2023, respectively, as discussed further above under “Executive Compensation – Components of Compensation Package – Cash Bonus.”

(4) Mr. Galbraith has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of our board of directors since January 2022. In addition, Mr. Galbraith has served as our President since June 2023 and previously served as our President from January 2022 to August 2022. Mr. Galbraith also served as our interim Chief Financial Officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer from March 31, 2024 until September 1, 2024.

(5) Of the total amount for 2024, (i) $53,969 represents accommodation benefits, (ii) $6,390 represents Company contributions to a defined contribution pension plan, (iii) $14,516 represents private health insurance premiums, (iv) $701 represents life insurance premiums through our group extended benefit plan, (v) $30,853 represents airfare for immediate family members in accordance with the terms of Mr. Galbraith’s employment agreement, (vi) $30,000 represents an estimated tax equalization payment (which includes $16,000 for estimated tax gross-up) in connection with taxation attributable to the performance of work outside the UK, and (vii) $3,030 represents reimbursement for tax preparation services.

(6) Of the total amount for 2023, (i) $53,260 represents accommodation benefits, (ii) $6,547 represents Company contributions to a defined contribution pension plan, (iii) $746 represents life insurance premiums through our group extended benefit plan, (iv) $17,593 represents airfare for immediate family members in accordance with the terms of Mr. Galbraith’s employment agreement, and (v) $11,000 represents an estimated tax equalization payment (which includes $6,000 for estimated tax gross-up) in connection with taxation attributable to the performance of work outside the UK.

(7) Ms. Patterson has served as our Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer since September 1, 2024. In 2024, she received a $50,000 sign-on bonus and options to purchase 360,000 shares of common stock.

(8) Represents Company contributions of $6,063 to our 401(k) plan.

(9) Dr. Moore has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since July 2022.

(10) Of the total amount for 2024, (i) $44,283 represents a tax equalization payment for 2023 paid in 2024, and (ii) $4,433 represents life insurance premiums through our group extended benefit plan.

(11) Of the total amount for 2023, (i) $41,496 represents accommodation benefits (which benefits ceased in connection with Dr. Moore's relocation to Vancouver in 2023), (ii) $163,115 represents relocation expenses (which includes $77,334 for tax gross-up), (iii) $19,800 represents Company contributions to our 401(k) plan, and (iv) $351 represents life insurance premiums through our group extended benefit plan.

Clawback Policy

In November 2023, we adopted a compensation recovery policy (the “Clawback Policy”) in accordance with the SEC and Nasdaq requirements under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. This policy provides for the non-discretionary recovery of excess incentive-based compensation from current and former executive officers in the event of an accounting restatement, whether or not the executive officer was at fault for the restatement, in accordance with the SEC and Nasdaq requirements.

In addition, as a public company subject to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, if we are required to prepare an accounting restatement due to our material noncompliance, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer may be legally required to reimburse us for any bonus or incentive-based or equity-based compensation they received from us during the 12-month period following the first public issuance or filing with the SEC of the financial document incorporating such financial reporting requirement, as well as profits realized from the sale of securities during that 12-month period.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2024 Year End

The following table lists all outstanding equity awards granted in U.S. dollars under the Equity Compensation Plan and our Inducement Stock Option and Equity Compensation Plan (the “Inducement Plan”) held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2024:

Option Awards · Stock Awards
Name · Grant Date · Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options(#)Exercisable(1) · Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options(#)Unexercisable(1) · Option Exercise Price($) · Option Expiration Date · Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested(#)(2) · Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested($)(2)(3)
Kenneth Galbraith1/15/2022375,000125,00014.971/14/2032——
12/22/2022————100,000(4)1,464,000
1/5/2023107,500107,5008.001/4/2033——
1/5/2023————95,3341,395,690
1/5/2024—300,00010.561/4/2034—
1/5/2024————200,0002,928,000
Leone Patterson9/1/2024—360,00011.738/31/2034——
Paul Moore7/18/2022125,00075,0005.827/17/2032——
1/5/202338,75038,7508.001/4/2033——
1/5/2023————34,334502,650
1/5/2024—90,00010.561/4/2034——
1/5/2024————60,000878,400

(1) Options vest and become exercisable with respect to (i) 25% of the underlying shares one year after the grant date and (ii) the remainder of the underlying shares in 36 equal monthly installments following the first anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the optionee’s continued service through each vesting date and any applicable acceleration of vesting provisions described under the section below entitled “Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

(2) Unless otherwise noted, restricted stock units vest in three equal annual installments on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the date of grant, subject to the holder’s continued service through each vesting date and any applicable acceleration of vesting provisions described under the section below entitled “Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

(3) Market value of restricted stock units that have not vested is based on the closing price of the Company’s common shares on Nasdaq on December 31, 2024, which was $14.64 per share.

(4) These restricted stock units vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the holder’s continued service. Pursuant to the terms of Mr. Galbraith’s grant agreement with respect to these restricted stock units, (i) if Mr. Galbraith’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, 100% of the restricted stock units will fully vest, and (ii) if on or within twelve months following a change of control (as defined in Mr. Galbraith’s employment agreement) or within three months prior to a change of control, Mr. Galbraith’s employment with the Company terminates due to his resignation for good reason, 100% of the restricted stock units will fully vest, in each case of (i) and (ii) subject to Mr. Galbraith having entered into a valid and enforceable settlement agreement with the Company on terms satisfactory to the

Company. These restricted stock units also are subject to the applicable acceleration of vesting provisions described for Mr. Galbraith under the section below entitled “Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Pension Benefits

We do not have any qualified or non-qualified defined benefit pension plans.

Defined Contribution Plans

Registered Retirement Savings Plan

Our executive officers resident in Canada are eligible, along with all other employees resident in Canada, to participate in our registered retirement savings plan (“RRSP”) matching program. Under this program, we match the amount contributed by each employee into a group RRSP plan, up to a pre-determined percentage of annual salary. We match employee contributions to the group RRSP up to 6.0% of annual salary. Generally, company matching contributions will not exceed 50% of the maximum annual RRSP dollar limit as specified by the Canada Revenue Agency in any given year.

401(k) Plan

Our executive officers resident in the United States are eligible, along with all other U.S.-based employees, to participate in a 401(k) matching program. Under this program, we match the amount contributed by each employee into a 401(k) plan, up to a predetermined percentage of annual salary. We match employee contributions to a 401(k) plan up to 6.0% of annual salary, with company matching contributions not to exceed the annual personal and Age 50 Catch Up contribution limit (if applicable) set by the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, in any given year.

Group Personal Pension Plan

Our executive officers resident in the UK are eligible, along with all other employees resident in the UK, to participate in our group personal pension (“GPP”) plan matching program. Under this program, we match the amount contributed by each employee into a GPP plan, up to a pre-determined percentage of annual salary. We match employee contributions to a GPP plan up to 6.0% of annual salary. Generally, company matching contributions will not exceed 50% of the maximum annual plan dollar limit set by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, or HMRC, in any given year.

Non-qualified Deferred Compensation

We do not have any non-qualified defined contribution plans or other deferred compensation plans.

Executive Employment Arrangements and Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

Executive Employment Arrangements

Key provisions of the employment agreements that were in effect as of December 31, 2024, for our named executive officers are described below.

Kenneth Galbraith. In connection with Mr. Galbraith’s appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2022, Mr. Galbraith entered into an employment agreement with us (the “Original Agreement”), on December 30, 2022, Zymeworks BC and Zymeworks Management Inc., our subsidiaries, and Mr. Galbraith entered into an amendment to the Original Agreement (the “First Amendment”), and on January 3, 2024, Zymeworks BC and Mr. Galbraith entered into a second amendment (the “Second Amendment” and the Original Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment and the Second Amendment, the “Galbraith Employment Agreement”). The Galbraith Employment Agreement does not have a specific term. The Second Amendment established Mr. Galbraith’s principal place of employment as the UK, or another location as agreed upon between the parties, which removes the requirement for Mr. Galbraith to relocate to Vancouver, British Columbia or Seattle, Washington, and incorporated certain extensions of compensation and benefit provisions, as described below.

Pursuant to the Galbraith Employment Agreement, Mr. Galbraith is entitled to the following compensation and benefits:

An annual base salary of $600,000, with eligibility to earn an annual discretionary bonus of up to 60% of his annual base salary, based upon the achievement of certain Company goals determined by the board of directors. Mr. Galbraith’s current annual base salary is $655,000 and his target annual discretionary bonus remains at 60% of his annual base salary;

Options, which were granted to Mr. Galbraith in 2022, to purchase 500,000 of our common shares at an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value on the date of grant (the “Inducement Options”). 25% of the Inducement Options vest and become exercisable on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant, and thereafter 1/36th of the remaining Inducement Options will vest on the last day of each month, until all of the Inducement Options have vested, subject to Mr. Galbraith’s continued service;

Eligibility to participate in our employee benefit plans, policies and arrangements that, in the aggregate, are reasonably consistent with other executive officers generally, as well as reimbursement for certain fees and costs related to membership in certain professional associations and professional development;

Enrollment in a qualifying pension scheme under the UK Pensions Act 2008;

Prior to the Second Amendment, the Galbraith Employment Agreement provided for reimbursement of relocation expenses up to a maximum gross amount of $300,000, grossed up for the impact of any tax withholding, for reasonable moving expenses incurred by Mr. Galbraith and his immediate family during relocation from Mr. Galbraith’s primary residence to Vancouver, British Columbia or Seattle, Washington if he relocated on or before July 15, 2024 (under the Original Agreement, this related to a relocation within the first eighteen months of employment), with the total amount reimbursed under this provision required to be repaid if Mr. Galbraith’s employment had terminated within three years (two years under the Original Agreement) following the effective date of employment. The Second Amendment removed the requirement to relocate, and deleted this provision regarding relocation expenses;

Temporary housing for Mr. Galbraith in Vancouver, British Columbia, grossed up for the impact of any tax withholding. The First Amendment had provided for this benefit through the earlier of Mr. Galbraith’s relocation or July 15, 2024, and under the Original Agreement, this was through the earlier of Mr. Galbraith’s relocation or the date that is 18 months following the effective date of employment;

Reimbursement of reasonable travel and living expenses when traveling from his home to Vancouver, British Columbia or Seattle, Washington for his employment duties, as well as reimbursement or Company payment for reasonable airfare and lodging expenses for Mr. Galbraith and his immediate family for one trip per calendar year to Vancouver, British Columbia or Seattle, Washington, as applicable (under the Original Agreement, this related to trips that occurred prior to the end of 2023 under the Original Agreement, and under the First Amendment, to trips that occurred prior to the end of 2024);

A tax equalization payment if Mr. Galbraith is subject to income taxation or other taxation outside of the UK during the period of his employment, grossed up for the impact of any tax withholding, and tax preparation services;

If we terminate Mr. Galbraith’s employment during his first three years of employment, then Mr. Galbraith will be eligible to receive twelve months of notice or the equivalent of twelve months of base salary as of the date notice is given, or any combination thereof that totals twelve months of combined notice and base salary. Commencing in the fourth year of his employment, if we terminate Mr. Galbraith’s employment, Mr. Galbraith will be eligible to receive an additional one month of notice or the equivalent of one month of base salary as of the date notice is given, or any combination thereof, for each additional completed year of service, up to a total maximum of eighteen months. Mr. Galbraith will also be eligible for continuation of group health and dental benefits through the applicable notice period to the extent permitted by any applicable benefit plan;

In the event of termination on death or disability, as defined in our long-term disability plan or policy then in effect with respect to him, Mr. Galbraith, or his estate, will receive (x) a lump sum payment equal to the difference between (1) eighteen months of base salary plus target annual cash bonus as of the date of death or disability and (2) the amount that Mr. Galbraith or his estate will receive as a result of death or disability under our applicable insurance policies in effect as of the date of termination, (y) group extended health and dental benefits continuation for his surviving family members for eighteen months (or lump sum payment for the premium costs of such benefits in lieu thereof), and (z) full vesting acceleration of all unvested and outstanding stock options or other equity grants made to Mr. Galbraith as of the date of death or disability;

If Mr. Galbraith’s employment is terminated by us without cause on or within twelve months following, or within three months prior to, a change of control (as defined in the Galbraith Employment Agreement), Mr. Galbraith will be eligible to receive (x) a lump sum payment of eighteen months of base salary and 100% of target annual cash bonus as of the date of termination, (y) group extended health and dental benefits continuation as of the date of termination for eighteen months (or lump sum payment for the premium costs of such benefit plans in lieu thereof) and (z) full vesting acceleration of all unvested and outstanding stock options or other equity grants as of the date of termination. Such payments will be subject to Mr. Galbraith entering into a valid settlement agreement with us; and

In addition, the Galbraith Employment Agreement requires Mr. Galbraith, among other things, not to compete, either directly or indirectly, with us while employed by us and for up to six months following the termination of his employment with us. The Galbraith Employment Agreement also requires Mr. Galbraith not to solicit our employees or consultants to terminate their relationship with us while he is employed by us and for up to one year following the termination of his employment with us.

On March 31, 2024, Mr. Galbraith was appointed interim Chief Financial Officer and continued in his roles as Chair of the board of directors, President and Chief Executive Officer and assumed the duties of principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, without any changes to his compensatory arrangements. In connection with Ms. Patterson’s start date, Mr. Galbraith resigned from the positions of interim Chief Financial Officer and as principal financial officer and principal accounting officer of the Company, effective September 1, 2024. The compensatory and other material terms of Mr. Galbraith’s employment with the Company were unchanged in connection with his appointment and subsequent resignation as interim Chief Financial Officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer.

Leone Patterson. On July 19, 2024, our subsidiary ZBI entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Patterson, which became effective September 1, 2024, setting forth the terms and conditions of her employment as Executive Vice President, Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company (the “Patterson Employment Agreement”). The Patterson Employment Agreement does not have a stated term.

Pursuant to the Patterson Employment Agreement, Ms. Patterson is entitled to the following compensation and benefits:

An annual base salary of $485,000, with eligibility to earn an annual discretionary bonus of up to 45% of her annual base salary, based upon the achievement of certain Company goals determined by the board of directors. With respect to 2024, Ms. Patterson was eligible to receive a pro-rated bonus for the six-month period from July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024;

Eligibility to participate in Company employee benefit plans, policies and arrangements, as well as reimbursement for certain fees and costs related to membership in certain professional associations and professional development;

Signing bonus of $50,000, which will be repayable in full to ZBI within 30 days of Ms. Patterson’s employment termination date if her employment is terminated for Cause (as defined in the Patterson Employment Agreement) or by Ms. Patterson for any reason, in either case, within one year of the effective date of the Patterson Employment Agreement;

Options, which were granted to Ms. Patterson in 2024, to purchase 360,000 of our common shares at an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value on the date of grant. 25% of the Options vest and become exercisable on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant, and thereafter 1/36th of the remaining Options will vest on the last day of each month, until all of the Options have vested, subject to Ms. Patterson’s continued service through the applicable vesting date;

If we terminate Ms. Patterson’s employment without cause during her first three years of employment, then Ms. Patterson will be eligible to receive twelve months of notice or the equivalent of twelve months of base salary as of the date notice is given, or any combination thereof that totals twelve months of combined notice and base salary. Commencing in the fourth year of her employment, if we terminate Ms. Patterson’s employment without cause, Ms. Patterson will be eligible to receive an additional one month of notice or the equivalent of one month of base salary as of the date notice is given, or any combination thereof, for each additional completed year of service, up to a total maximum of eighteen months. Ms. Patterson will also be eligible for continuation of group health and dental benefits through the applicable notice period to the extent permitted by any applicable benefit plan. Such payments will be subject to Ms. Patterson entering into a valid separation and release agreement with us;

If Ms. Patterson’s employment is terminated by us without cause on or within twelve months following a change of control (as defined in the Patterson Employment Agreement), Ms. Patterson will be eligible to receive as severance (x) eighteen months continued base salary following termination, (y) group extended health and dental benefits as of the date of termination for eighteen months, and (z) full vesting acceleration of all unvested and outstanding stock options or other equity grants as of the date of termination. Such payments will be subject to Ms. Patterson entering into a valid separation and release agreement with us.

In addition, if any of the payments or benefits provided for under the Patterson Employment Agreement employment agreement or otherwise payable to Ms. Patterson would constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would be subject to the related excise tax, she would be entitled to receive either full payment of such payments and benefits or such lesser amount that would result in no portion of the payments and benefits being subject to the excise tax, whichever results in the greater amount of after-tax benefits to her. The Patterson Employment Agreement does not require us to provide any tax gross-up payments to her.

Paul Moore. On July 18, 2022, the Company and our subsidiary ZBIentered into an employment agreement with Dr. Moore setting forth the terms and conditions of his employment as Chief Scientific Officer of the Company (the “Initial Employment Agreement”). In connection with Dr. Moore’s planned relocation from the United States to Canada, the Company and our subsidiary Zymeworks BC entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Dr. Moore in July 2023 (the “Moore Employment Agreement”) that supersedes and replaces the Initial Employment Agreement. The Moore Employment Agreement does not have a stated term.

Pursuant to the Moore Employment Agreement, Dr. Moore is entitled to the following compensation and benefits:

An annual base salary of $465,000, with eligibility to earn an annual discretionary bonus of up to 45% of his annual base salary, based upon the achievement of certain Company goals determined by the board of directors. Dr. Moore’s current annual base salary is $495,000 and his target annual discretionary bonus remains at 45% of his annual base salary;

Eligibility to participate in our employee benefit plans, policies and arrangements, as well as reimbursement for certain fees and costs related to membership in certain professional associations and professional development;

Reimbursement of relocation expenses up to a maximum of $200,000, grossed-up to offset the impact of any taxes on such payment, for reasonable and customary moving expenses that Dr. Moore incurs within eighteen months of his July 18, 2022 start date in connection with his relocation to the Vancouver, British Columbia metropolitan area, as contemplated in the Initial Employment Agreement.

A tax equalization payment if Dr. Moore is subject to income taxation in Canada in a given year equal to the difference between (i) the sum of total Canadian taxes plus any U.S. federal, state and local income taxes, that Dr. Moore is or would be obligated to pay for an applicable tax year, and (ii) the amount of U.S. federal, state and local tax liability had Dr. Moore worked in the United States for the entire tax year. Any tax equalization payment will be grossed-up to offset the impact of taxes on such payment.

Provision of tax preparation support or reimbursement of up to $5,000 per year for additional tax preparation expenses of Dr. Moore for a period of two years from his July 18, 2022 start date.

If we terminate Dr. Moore’s employment without cause during his first three years of employment, then Dr. Moore will be eligible to receive twelve months of notice or the equivalent of twelve months of base salary as of the date notice is given, or any combination thereof that totals twelve months of combined notice and base salary. Commencing in the fourth year of his employment, if we terminate Dr. Moore’s employment without cause, Dr. Moore will be eligible to receive an additional one month of notice or the equivalent of one month of base salary as of the date notice is given, or any combination thereof, for each additional completed year of service, up to a total maximum of eighteen months. Dr. Moore will also be eligible for continuation of group health and dental benefits through the applicable notice period to the extent permitted by any applicable benefit plan. Such payments will be subject to Dr. Moore entering into a valid separation and release agreement with us;

If Dr. Moore’s employment is terminated by us without cause on or within twelve months following a change of control (as defined in the Moore Employment Agreement), Dr. Moore will be eligible to receive as severance (x) eighteen months continued base salary following termination, (y) group extended health and dental benefits as of the date of termination for eighteen months, and (z) full vesting acceleration of all unvested and outstanding stock options or other equity grants as of the date of termination. Such payments will be subject to Dr. Moore entering into a valid separation and release agreement with us; and

In addition, the Moore Employment Agreement requires Dr. Moore, among other things, not to compete, either directly or indirectly, with us while employed by us and for up to six months following the termination of his employment with us. The Moore Employment Agreement also requires Dr. Moore not to solicit our employees to terminate their relationship with us while he is employed by us and for up to one year following the termination of his employment with us.

In addition, if any of the payments or benefits provided for under the Moore Employment Agreement employment agreement or otherwise payable to Dr. Moore would constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would be subject to the related excise tax, he would be entitled to receive either full payment of such payments and benefits or such lesser amount that would result in no portion of the payments and benefits being subject to the excise tax, whichever results in the greater amount of after-tax benefits to him. The Moore Employment Agreement does not require us to provide any tax gross-up payments to him.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

Under our Original Plan, upon a transaction in which equity securities representing more than 66 2/3% of our common stock are sold (a “substantial sale”), if the purchaser offers to buy out options, the options must be sold to the purchaser at a purchase price equal to (x) the price per share in the transaction (calculated in accordance with the terms of the Original Plan) minus the exercise price per share, multiplied by (y) the number of shares then exercisable under the option. If the option holders do not sell their options to the purchaser, such options will terminate upon completion of the substantial sale.

Under our Equity Compensation Plan and our Inducement Plan, in connection with a change of control (as defined in the applicable plan), our board of directors or the committee to which our board of directors has delegated authority to administer the applicable plan (either, the “Administrator”) has the right to provide for the conversion or exchange of any outstanding awards into or for options, rights or other securities in any entity participating in or resulting from a change of control, cash or other property. If we enter into an agreement for a transaction that, if completed, would result in a change of control, or otherwise become aware of a pending change of control, we will give written notice to the award holders regarding the potential change of control and a description of the effect of the change of control on outstanding awards at least seven (7) days prior to the closing of change of control.

Under our Equity Compensation Plan and Inducement Plan, the Administrator may, in its discretion, accelerate the vesting and/or expiration date of any or all outstanding awards in connection with the change of control to provide that such designated awards shall be fully vested and any options not exercised within the specified period will be terminated after the completion of the change of control. If the change of control would also result in a capital reorganization, arrangement, amalgamation or reclassification of our share capital (and if the vesting and expiration of the awards has not been accelerated as contemplated by the prior sentence), upon completion of the change of control, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards and, if applicable, the exercise price per share of options shall be appropriately adjusted (including by substituting the awards for awards with respect to securities in any successor entity to us) in such manner as the Administrator considers equitable to prevent substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights granted to Award holders. The Administrator also may make changes to the terms of the awards or the Equity Compensation Plan or Inducement Plan to the extent necessary or desirable to comply with any rules, regulations or policies of any stock exchange on which any of our securities may be listed, provided that the value of previously granted awards and the rights of award holders are not materially adversely affected by any such changes. In addition, in the event of a potential change of control, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, modify the terms of the plan and/or the awards to assist the participants to tender into a take-over bid or other transaction leading to a change of control, including the authority to allow participants to conditionally exercise options.

The Company’s Policies and Practices Related to the Grant of Certain Equity Awards Close in Time to the Release of Material Nonpublic Information

During 2024, we granted stock options to employees, including our named executive officers. Wedo not take material nonpublic information into account in determining the timing of such awards. Further, we havenot timed the disclosure of material nonpublic information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation. We typically grant annual equity awards (including stock options) to our executive officers and non-executive employees early in the first quarter of each year. For equity awards to executive officers in connection with their hire date, such grants are typically made on the date of the commencement of their employment. For equity awards to non-executive employees in connection with their hire date, such grants are typically made on a pre-determined date in the month following the commencement of their employment. We have never granted stock appreciation rights to any employees or other service providers.

During fiscal year 2024, the Company awarded options to certain of our named executive officers in the period beginning four business days before the filing of a periodic report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, or the filing or furnishing of a report on Form 8-K that disclosed material nonpublic information, and ending one business day after such filing or furnishing. The following table provides information concerning each such award:

NameGrant DateNumber of Securities Underlying the AwardExercise Price of the Award ($/Sh)Grant Date Fair Value of the Award ($)(1)Percentage Change in the Closing Market Price of the Securities Underlying the Award between the Trading Day Ending Immediately Prior to the Disclosure of Material Nonpublic Information and the Trading Day Beginning Immediately Following the Disclosure of Material Nonpublic Information
Kenneth Galbraith1/5/2024300,00010.561,985,672(1.03)%
Paul Moore1/5/202490,00010.56595,702(1.03)%

(1)The amounts set forth in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value for option awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. See Note 2 to the“Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Stock-Based Compensation” and Note 10(f)“Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Shareholders’ Equity – Stock-Based Compensation” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for our year ended December 31, 2024.

Director Compensation Table

The following table presents the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our directors (other than Mr. Galbraith, whose compensation is provided in the Summary Compensation Table above) for the year ended December 31, 2024. Mr. Nodelman is not included in the table below as he did not join the board of directors until 2025. We do not currently have director compensation in the form of share-based awards (other than stock options), non-equity incentive plan compensation or non-qualified deferred compensation.

Name · Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) · Option Awards($)(1)(2) · All Other Compensation · Total($)
Carlos Campoy65,000241,472—306,472
Alessandra Cesano (3)46,750763,477—810,227
Troy M. Cox50,000241,472—291,472
Nancy Davidson53,500241,472—294,972
Neil Gallagher (4)35,125662,283—697,408
Kenneth Hillan (5)6,667(9)——6,667
Susan Mahony73,125241,472—314,597
Derek J. Miller60,000(10)241,472—301,472
Kelvin Neu (6)55,000241,472—296,472
Scott Platshon (7)————
Hollings C. Renton (8)55,000——55,000

(1) The amounts set forth in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value for option awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. See Note 2 to the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Stock-Based Compensation” and Note 10(f) “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements – Stockholders’ Equity Stock-Based Compensation” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for our year ended December 31, 2024.

(2) As of December 31, 2024, directors held the following number of options to purchase Company common shares: (i) Mr. Campoy, 118,000; (ii) Dr. Cesano, 105,000; (iii) Mr. Cox, 141,000; (iv) Dr. Davidson, 105,000; (v) Dr. Gallagher, 105,000; (vi) Mr. Hillan, 93,675; (vii) Dr. Mahony, 141,000; (viii) Mr. Miller, 118,000; (ix) Dr. Neu, 102,000; (x) Mr. Platshon, nil; and (xi) Mr. Renton, 121,425.

(3) Dr. Cesano joined the Company’s board of directors in February 2024.

(4) Dr. Gallagher joined the Company’s board of directors in April 2024.

(5) Dr. Hillan ceased serving on the Company’s board of directors in February 2024.

(6) Dr. Neu joined the Company’s board of directors in March 2020. Dr. Neu was an employee of Baker Bros. Advisors LP until January 2021. Pursuant to the terms of Dr. Neu’s employment by Baker Brothers Advisors LP, the options granted to him in 2020 were, and will continue to be, beneficially owned by Baker Bros. Advisors LP.

(7) Mr. Platshon joined the Company’s board of directors in February 2024. Mr. Platshon waived his entitlement to cash and equity compensation otherwise payable to him pursuant to the Company’s non-employee director compensation policy.

(8) Dr. Renton ceased serving on the Company’s board of directors in December 2024.

(9) Due to a clerical error, Dr. Hillan received $2,667 less than he was entitled to under the Company’s non-employee director compensation policy. This inadvertent underpayment will be corrected by paying Dr. Hillan the outstanding amount owed to him.

(10) Due to a clerical error, Mr. Miller received $417 more than he was entitled to under the Company’s non-employee director compensation policy. This inadvertent overpayment will be corrected by withholding such overpaid amounts from the amounts he will be owed for service as a director in 2025.

Director Compensation

The written charter of our compensation committee provides that the compensation committee will review compensation for members of our board of directors on at least an annual basis, taking into account their responsibilities and time commitment and information regarding the compensation paid at peer companies. The compensation committee will make recommendations to our board of directors with respect to changes to our approach to director compensation as it considers appropriate.

From time to time, the compensation committee works with Aon to update prior competitive assessments of our board of director compensation program.

In November 2023, the compensation committee worked with Aon to again update prior competitive assessments of our board of director compensation program. Based on these findings, in November 2023, the compensation committee recommended certain changes to the non-employee director compensation program.

In December 2023, the board of directors approved, following its annual assessment of the director compensation program and including its consideration of the input and recommendations from the compensation committee, the following changes to the cash and equity compensation of non-employee directors (as amended, the “Amended and Restated Director Compensation Policy”), which changes adjust the director compensation program to more closely align with the non-employee director compensation practices of the Company’s peer group:

The annual cash retainer fee for service as a member of the board of directors and for service as lead independent director was maintained at the 2023 level at $40,000 and $65,000, respectively.

Beginning January 1, 2024, the annual cash retainer fee for service as chair of the audit committee was increased from $15,000 to $20,000, the annual cash retainer fee for service as a member of the audit committee was increased from $7,500 to $10,000, the annual cash retainer fee for service as chair of the compensation committee was increased from $12,000 to $15,000, the annual cash retainer fee for service as a member of the compensation committee was increased from $6,000 to $7,500, the annual cash retainer fee for service as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee was increased from $8,500 to $10,000, the annual cash retainer fee for service as a member of the nominating and corporate governance committee was increased from $4,250 to $5,000.The annual cash retainer fee for service as chair of the research and development committee was maintained at $15,000 and the annual cash retainer fee for service as a member of the research and development committee was maintained at $6,000;

Effective immediately, the initial option grants for new non-employee directors, to be granted on or about the time of the director joining the board of directors, were increased from options to purchase 50,000 shares of Company common stock to options to purchase 74,000 shares of Company common stock, with the vesting schedule remaining as 1/36th of the shares subject to the option vesting on each monthly anniversary of the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service; and

Effective immediately, the annual equity grant to continuing non-employee directors, to be granted at or about the time of our annual meeting of stockholders, was increased from options to purchase 25,000 shares of Company common stock to 37,000 shares, with the vesting schedule remaining 100% of the shares subject to the option vesting on the date of the next year’s annual meeting of stockholders, subject to the optionee’s continued service through such date.

In December 2024, the board of directors, upon advice from its independent compensation consultants and recommendation from the compensation committee following its annual assessment of the board of directors’ compensation program, approved the following changes to the cash and equity compensation of non-employee directors, which changes adjust the board of directors’ compensation program to more closely align with the non-employee director compensation practices of the Company’s peer group.

Beginning January 1, 2025, the annual cash retainer fee for service as a member of the research and development committee will be increased from $6,000 to $7,500 with all other annual cash retainers for the Board and its committees remaining unchanged;

Effective immediately, the initial option grants for any new non-employee directors, to be granted on or about the time of the director joining the Board, was reduced from options to purchase 74,000 shares of Company common stock to options to purchase 62,000 shares of Company common stock, with the vesting schedule remaining as 1/36th of the shares subject to the option vesting on each monthly anniversary of the grant date, subject to the optionee’s continued service; and

Effective immediately, the annual equity grant to continuing non-employee directors, to be granted at or about the time of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, was reduced from options to purchase 37,000 shares of Company common stock to options to purchase 31,000 shares of Company common stock, with the vesting schedule remaining 100% of the shares subject to the option vesting on the date of the next year’s annual meeting of stockholders, subject to the optionee’s continued service through such date.

Following the recommendation of the compensation committee, the board of directors also determined to not implement stock ownership guidelines at this time. No other changes to board of director compensation were made for 2024.

Cash Compensation for Directors

In 2024, we provided the below annual cash retainer fees for service on our board of directors and committees. The fees for service on committees are in addition to the annual retainer fees for service on the board of directors.

Effective January 1, 2024Effective January 1, 2025
Amount($)Amount($)
Board of Directors:
Member40,00040,000
Lead Independent Director65,00065,000
Audit Committee:
Member10,00010,000
Chair20,00020,000
Compensation Committee:
Member7,5007,500
Chair15,00015,000
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:
Member5,0005,000
Chair10,00010,000
Research and Development Committee:
Member6,0007,500
Chair15,00015,000

Cash retainer fees were amended in December 2024 as discussed above.

Equity Compensation for Directors

Beginning December 2024, new non-employee directors will be granted an initial option grant to purchase 62,000 shares of common stock, to be granted on or about the time such director joins the board of directors, with a vesting schedule of 1/36th of the options vesting on each monthly anniversary of the grant date, subject to the optionee’s continued service through such date.

In addition, non-employee directors will be granted an annual option grant to purchase 31,000 shares of common stock, to be granted at or about the time of the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, with a vesting schedule of 100% of the options vesting on the date of the next year’s annual meeting of stockholders, subject to the optionee’s continued service through such date.

Pursuant to amendments approved by the board of directors in December 2024, upon cessation of a non-employee director’s continued service, each outstanding stock option held by such director is subject to (i) pro rata acceleration of vesting of options granted as annual equity awards in connection with the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders for directors departing after the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, but at or before our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, with the pro rata acceleration determined based on the number of full or partial months served as a non-employee director on and after the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders date.

In addition, the post-termination exercise period for vested options held by departing directors is extended to three years following the director’s cessation of service (or, if earlier, upon the expiration of the option).

Expense Reimbursement

Each member of our board of directors is also entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in connection with attending board meetings and meetings for any committee on which he or she serves. These amounts are not included in the table above.

Risk Management

As part of its normal practice, the compensation committee evaluates the risk-taking incentives created by our compensation programs, policies and practices and has concluded that such programs, policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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