Imatinib mesylate

WILMINGTON, Del., July 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKT) (“Inhibikase” or “Company”), today announced that the Company granted non-qualified stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 981,243 shares of the Company’s common stock to seven newly-hired non-executive employees under the Company’s 2026 Inducement Equity Plan (the “Inducement Plan”), effective as of June 30, 2026 (the “Effective Date”). The inducement grants were previously approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, as a material inducement to the new employees’ entry into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The options have an exercise price of $2.03 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Effective Date. The options have a ten year term, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and the remaining 75% vesting in 36 equal monthly installments thereafter. The options are subject to the terms and conditions of the Inducement Plan approved by the Company’s Board of Directors in March 2026 and the terms and conditions of award agreements covering the grants. About Inhibikase Therapeutics Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKT) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics to modify the course of cardiopulmonary diseases, namely, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (“PAH”), in which aberrant signaling through type III receptor tyrosine kinases, including platelet derived growth factor receptors and a stem cell factor receptor, known as “c-Kit” has been implicated. Our lead product candidate is IKT-001, a prodrug of imatinib mesylate (“imatinib”), for PAH which is an orphan indication. Imatinib was first approved in the United States in 2001 for various cancers and blood disorders and, following more than 20 years of clinical use, has a well-characterized safety pro the first reported use of imatinib in PAH occurring in 2005. PAH is a progressive, life-threatening disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance that affects approximately 50,000 Americans. Our single pivotal Phase 3 clinical study in PAH in approximately 180 sites around the world, named IMPROVE-PAH ( I KT-001 for M easuring P ulmonary Vascular R esistance and O utcome V ariables in a Phase 3 E valuation of PAH ), is actively enrolling patients. Contacts: Investor Relations: Michael Moyer LifeSci Advisors mmoyer@lifesciadvisors.com

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a member of Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President and COO: Toichi Takino; “Ono”), announced the first patient was dosed in the global pivotal Phase 3 INTREPID study evaluating sapablursen for the treatment of polycythemia vera (PV). Sapablursen is an investigational drug that has the potential to offer a once-monthly treatment option for patients with PV, a rare and potentially life-threatening hematologic disease. “We look forward to building upon the positive efficacy and safety results from the Phase 2a IMPRSSION study, which demonstrated the ability of sapablursen to reduce the frequency of phlebotomy, control hematocrit, and improve PV symptoms in patients treated with phlebotomy alone and those on cytoreductive therapies,” said Matthew L. Sherman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Deciphera. “Sapablursen has the potential to be an important new treatment option for patients with PV, and we are excited to begin our Phase 3 INTREPID study, which brings us one step closer to addressing the unmet needs of these patients.” INTREPID is a pivotal global Phase 3 study in patients with phlebotomy-dependent PV designed to compare the efficacy and safety of sapablursen to placebo over a 32-week double-blind treatment period followed by up to 124 weeks of open label treatment. The primary endpoint is response, defined by the absence of phlebotomy eligibility. Key secondary endpoints are number of phlebotomies, which is the primary endpoint for the European Medicines Agency for potential regulatory approval, hematocrit control, and improvement in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue Short Form Total T-score and the Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form (MFSAF) Total Symptom Score. Durability of response will be evaluated in patients randomized to sapablursen over 52 weeks of study treatment, including 32 weeks of blinded treatment and 20 weeks of open-label treatment. The INTREPID clinical trial has initiated in the United States and is planned in additional regions including North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe. For more information on the INTREPID study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07429266. Sapablursen received Fast Track designation and Orphan Drug Designation in 2024 and Breakthrough Therapy Designation in 2025 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sapablursen was discovered and advanced through Phase 2 clinical development by Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Ono obtained exclusive global rights for the development and commercialization of sapablursen after entering into a license agreement with Ionis in March 2025. About Sapablursen Sapablursen is designed to reduce the production of TMPRSS6 resulting in increased expression of hepcidin, the key regulator of iron homeostasis. By increasing the production of hepcidin, sapablursen has the potential to positively impact PV by decreasing hematocrit, reducing the need for phlebotomy, and improving quality of life. About Polycythemia Vera Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare and potentially life-threatening hematologic disease characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells, which significantly increases the risk of serious blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and death. The primary treatment goal in PV is to maintain blood hematocrit levels <45% to prevent thrombotic events and alleviate burdensome symptoms, such as severe fatigue, difficulty concentrating, night sweats, and pruritus. Current treatment options often worsen symptoms and inadequately maintain hematocrit control. About Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC Deciphera, a member of Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing important new medicines and providing hope to people living with cancer, neurologic, and autoimmune disease. Deciphera is leveraging its proprietary switch-control kinase inhibitor platform and deep expertise in kinase biology to develop a broad portfolio of innovative medicines. In addition to advancing multiple product candidates from Deciphera’s platform in clinical studies, QINLOCK® (ripretinib) is Deciphera’s switch-control kinase inhibitor approved in many countries including the European Union and the United States for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who have received prior treatment with 3 or more kinase inhibitors, including imatinib. ROMVIMZATM (vimseltinib) is a kinase inhibitor approved in the United States for adult patients with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) for which surgical resection will potentially cause worsening functional limitation or severe morbidity, and in the European Union for adult patients with TGCT associated with clinically relevant physical function deterioration and in whom surgical options have been exhausted or would induce unacceptable morbidity or disability. For more information, visit www.deciphera.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X (@Deciphera). About Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. delivers innovative medicines for patients worldwide. Upholding its philosophy of “Dedicated to the Fight against Disease and Pain,” Ono targets areas with unmet medical needs including oncology, immunology & inflammation, and neurology, and fosters partnerships with academic and biotech organizations to accelerate drug discovery. Through its affiliate, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Ono is accelerating clinical development and commercial operations in the US and Europe to drive global business expansion and further its commitment to patient care. For more information, please visit the company's website at https://www.ono-pharma.com/en. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs, and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of the company. These statements are based on current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in the business environment in the pharmaceutical market and amendments to relevant laws and regulations, (ii) disruptions to product supply due to stagnation or delays in production caused by natural disasters, fires, etc., (iii) the possibility that sales activities for new and existing products may not achieve the expected results, (iv) the emergence of new side effects in post-marketing drugs, and (v) infringements of intellectual property rights by third parties. Information about pharmaceutical products included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.