Calidi Biotherapeutics Grants Stock Options to New CEO Eric Poma

Calidi Biotherapeutics has granted an inducement non-qualified stock option to its recently appointed Chief Executive Officer, Eric Poma, Ph.D. The stock option allows Poma to purchase 726,412 shares at an exercise price of $0.469, which corresponds to the company's common stock closing price on April 22, 2025.

The option grant follows a structured vesting schedule designed to align Poma's long-term interests with the company's performance. Initially, 25% of the options will vest on April 22, 2026, with the remaining shares vesting in equal monthly installments through April 22, 2029. This approach is consistent with NYSE American LLC Company Guide Section 711 regulations.

The stock option represents a strategic move for Calidi Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm specializing in innovative stem cell-based platforms for cancer treatment. By providing a significant equity component in Poma's compensation, the company signals confidence in his leadership and potential to drive the organization's oncolytic virotherapy research forward.

Calidi's technology focuses on developing off-the-shelf, universal cell-based delivery platforms designed to enhance the efficacy and safety of cancer treatments. Their approach involves using potent allogeneic stem cells capable of carrying oncolytic viruses, potentially targeting high-grade gliomas and other solid tumors.

The stock option grant could be viewed as a strong indicator of the company's commitment to advancing its groundbreaking cancer treatment technologies under new leadership.