Assembly Biosciences Reports Inducement Grants under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASMB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and diseases associated with the microbiome, today announced a grant of inducement awards to its President and Chief Executive Officer, John McHutchison, AO, MD on August 6, 2019.

The Company granted Dr. McHutchison non-qualified stock options to purchase 500,000 shares of the company’s common stock with an exercise price of $11.86 per share, the closing price of Assembly’s common stock as reported by Nasdaq on August 6, 2019. The option grant was made as a material inducement to Dr. McHutchison to accept the Company’s offer of employment as its President and CEO. The stock options have a ten-year term and vest over three years, with one-third vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining two-thirds vesting in substantially equal monthly installments over the next 24 months. The options are subject to Dr. McHutchison’s continued service with Assembly through the applicable vesting dates and to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the award agreement evidencing the options.

The option grant was granted outside of Assembly’s stockholder-approved equity incentive plans pursuant to Assembly’s 2019 Inducement Award Plan. The stock options were approved by the compensation committee of the board of directors, which is comprised solely of independent directors, as a material inducement to Dr. McHutchison entering into employment with the Company in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

About Assembly Biosciences Assembly Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics targeting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and diseases associated with the microbiome. The HBV program is focused on advancing a new class of potent, oral core inhibitors that have the potential to increase cure rates for chronically infected patients. The microbiome program is developing novel oral live microbial biotherapeutic candidates with Assembly’s fully integrated platform, including a robust process for strain identification and selection, GMP banking and production, and targeted delivery to the lower gastrointestinal tract with the GEMICEL® technology. For more information, visit assemblybio.com.

Contact Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Investors: Lauren Glaser [phone] [e-mail]