Coherus Oncology, Inc.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant ☒ Filed by a party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:


⌧	Preliminary Proxy Statement

◻	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

◻	Definitive Proxy Statement

◻	Definitive Additional Materials

◻	Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

Coherus Oncology, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than The Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):


⌧	No fee required.

◻	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

◻	Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

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COHERUS ONCOLOGY, INC.

333 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 600

Redwood City, California 94065

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MAY 27, 2026

To the Stockholders of Coherus Oncology, Inc.:

The 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or the 2026 Annual Meeting, of Coherus Oncology, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or the Company, will be held virtually on May 27, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. PDT. Stockholders can attend the meeting via the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CHRS2026 by using the 16-digit control number that appears on the enclosed proxy card (printed in the box and marked by the arrow) and the instructions accompanying these proxy materials.

The 2026 Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

To elect two Class III directors to hold office until the 2029 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are elected;

To ratify the selection, by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026;

To hold a vote on a non-binding, advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, or a “Say-on-Pay” vote;

To approve a reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options;

To approve an increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the Company’s Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan, or the 2014 Plan; and

To transact such other business as may properly come before the 2026 Annual Meeting or any continuation, adjournment or postponement thereof.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this Notice. Only stockholders who owned the Company’s common stock at the close of business on April 16, 2026, or the Record Date, may vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting or any continuations, adjournments or postponements that take place. A complete list of such stockholders will be open to the examination of any stockholder for a period of ten (10) days prior to the 2026 Annual Meeting for a purpose germane to the meeting by sending an email to IR@coherus.com, stating the purpose of the request and providing proof of ownership of Company stock.

You are cordially invited to attend the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting via the Internet. Whether or not you plan to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible. You may vote over the Internet or by a toll-free telephone number. If, however, you requested to receive paper proxy materials, then you may vote by mailing a complete, signed and dated proxy card or voting instruction card in the envelope provided. Please note that any stockholder attending the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting may vote at the meeting, even if the stockholder has already returned a proxy card or voting instruction card.

Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of its director nominees, “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm; “FOR” a non-binding, advisory resolution to approve the compensation of our named executive officers; “FOR” the reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options; and “FOR” the increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan.

By Order of the Board of Directors:

Bryan McMichael

Chief Financial Officer

Redwood City, California

April __, 2026

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	Page
PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS	10
PROPOSAL NO. 2 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM	14
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS	15
PROPOSAL NO. 3 NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS	16
PROPOSAL NO. 4 APPROVAL OF A REDUCTION IN THE EXERCISE PRICE OF CERTAIN OUTSTANDING STOCK OPTIONS	17
PROPOSAL NO. 5 APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE 2014 PLAN	21
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE	32
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	39
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION	40
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS	42
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION	43
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION	52
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT	53
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE	55
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE	56
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	58
APPENDIX A	60

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COHERUS ONCOLOGY, INC.

333 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 600

Redwood City, California 94065

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS REGARDING THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE VOTING PROCESS

Why am I receiving these proxy materials?

We have made these proxy materials available to you because the Board of Directors of Coherus Oncology, Inc., or the Company, is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting, or any adjournments or postponements that take place. The 2026 Annual Meeting will be held virtually on May 27, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. PDT, at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CHRS2026. There will be no physical meeting location. The meeting will only be conducted via an audio webcast. As a stockholder, you are invited to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting and are requested to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting to vote.

What is included in the proxy materials?

The proxy materials include:

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This proxy statement, which includes information regarding the proposals to be voted on at the 2026 Annual Meeting, the voting process, corporate governance, the compensation of our directors and named executive officers, and other required information;

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Our 2025 Annual Report to Stockholders, which is our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025; and

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The proxy card or a voting instruction card for the 2026 Annual Meeting.

The proxy materials are being mailed or made available to stockholders on or about ______, 2026.

Who can vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting?

Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 16, 2026 will be entitled to vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were ______ shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If, at the close of business on April 16, 2026, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company Shareowner Services, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote at the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible by completing and returning the enclosed proxy card or vote by proxy over the telephone or on the Internet as instructed below to ensure your vote is counted.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank

If, at the close of business on April 16, 2026, your shares were not held in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered to be the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the 2026 Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner,

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you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting. However, because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares at the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

What proposals are scheduled for a vote?

There are five proposals scheduled for a vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting:

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Proposal No. 1 – To elect two Class III directors to hold office until the 2029 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are elected;

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Proposal No. 2 – To ratify the selection, by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026;

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Proposal No. 3 – To hold a vote on a non-binding, advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (a “Say-on-Pay” vote);

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Proposal No. 4 – To approve a reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options; and

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Proposal No. 5 – To approve an increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan.

How do I vote?

For Proposal No. 1, you may either vote “FOR” all nominees to our Board of Directors or you may “WITHHOLD” your vote for any nominee you specify. For Proposal No. 2, Proposal No. 3, Proposal No. 4, and Proposal No. 5, you may either vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” or you may abstain from voting.

The procedures for voting are as follows:

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If you are a stockholder of record, you may vote at the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting or vote by proxy by telephone or Internet or by mail. Whether or not you plan to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the 2026 Annual Meeting and vote by following the instructions described below even if you have already voted by proxy.

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To vote by attending the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting. You may vote your shares at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CHRS2026 during the 2026 Annual Meeting. You will need the 16-digit control number which appears on the enclosed proxy card (printed in the box and marked by the arrow) and the instructions accompanying these proxy materials. For additional details on the virtual meeting, please see page 4 of this proxy statement.

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To vote by proxy by telephone or Internet. If you have telephone or Internet access, you may submit your proxy by following the instructions provided with your proxy materials and on your proxy card or voting instruction card.

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To vote by proxy by mail. You may submit your proxy by mail by completing and signing your proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed envelope. Your shares will be voted as you have instructed.

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Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of Broker or Bank

If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank, dealer or other similar organization, you should have received a proxy card and voting instructions with these proxy materials from that organization rather than from us. Simply complete and mail the proxy card to ensure that your vote is counted. Alternatively, you may vote by telephone or over the Internet as instructed by your broker or other agent. To vote at the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent. Follow the instructions from your broker or other agent included with these proxy materials, or contact your broker or bank to request a proxy form.

How many votes do I have?

On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of the Company’s common stock you own as of April 16, 2026.

What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?

If you return a signed and dated proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted “FOR” the election of each nominee for director (Proposal No. 1); “FOR” the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (Proposal No. 2); “FOR” the non-binding, advisory resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers (Proposal No. 3); “FOR” the reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options (Proposal No. 4); and “FOR” the increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan (Proposal No. 5). If any other matter is properly presented at the 2026 Annual Meeting, your proxyholder (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his or her best judgment.

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors, officers and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone, or by other means of communication. Directors, officers and employees will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.

What does it mean if I receive more than one proxy card?

If you receive more than one proxy card, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. Please complete, sign and return each proxy card to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting. If you are the stockholder of record of your shares, you may revoke your proxy in any one of three ways:

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You may submit another properly completed proxy with a later date.

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You may send a timely written notice that you are revoking your proxy to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Coherus Oncology, Inc., 333 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 600, Redwood City, California 94065.

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You may attend the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting and vote at the meeting by following the instructions described above. Simply attending the 2026 Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy.

If your shares are held by your broker or other agent, you should follow the instructions provided by your broker or agent.

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How do I attend the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting?

The live audio webcast of the 2026 Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. PDT. Online access to the audio webcast will open approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the 2026 Annual Meeting to allow time for our stockholders to log in and test their devices’ audio system. We encourage our stockholders to access the meeting in advance of the designated start time.

To attend the 2026 Annual Meeting, stockholders will need to log in to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CHRS2026 using the 16-digit control number on the proxy card or voting instruction form.

Can I submit questions prior to or at the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting?

Stockholders may submit questions and vote on the day of, or during, the 2026 Annual Meeting on www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CHRS2026. To demonstrate proof of stock ownership, you will need to enter the 16-digit control number received with your proxy card or voting instruction form to submit questions and vote at our 2026 Annual Meeting. We intend to answer questions submitted during the meeting that are pertinent to the Company and the items being brought before stockholder vote at the 2026 Annual Meeting, as time permits, and in accordance with the Rules of Conduct for the 2026 Annual Meeting. Answers to any questions not addressed during the meeting will be posted following the meeting on our website at https://investors.coherus.com. Questions and answers will be grouped by topic and substantially similar questions will be answered only once. To promote fairness, efficiently use the Company’s resources and ensure all stockholder questions are able to be addressed, we will respond to no more than two questions from a single stockholder.

Is technical assistance provided before and during the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting?

Beginning fifteen minutes prior to the start of and during the virtual 2026 Annual Meeting, we will have our support team ready to assist stockholders with any technical difficulties they may have accessing or hearing the virtual meeting.

If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time, you should call the technical assistance phone numbers that will be made available on the virtual meeting registration page fifteen minutes prior to the start time of the virtual meeting. The technical assistance team that will answer calls will not be able to help with procuring your 16-digit control number to gain access to the meeting. Control numbers can be found in your proxy materials or requested through your bank or broker.

What is the quorum requirement?

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if stockholders holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote are present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Shares are considered present “in person” if voted by the holder of those shares or by proxy during the 2026 Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Accordingly, the holders of shares must be present at the 2026 Annual Meeting or represented by proxy to have a quorum. Your shares will be counted toward the quorum at the 2026 Annual Meeting only if you vote at the meeting, or you submit a valid proxy vote.

Abstentions and broker non-votes (as described below) will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairperson of the meeting or the holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy may adjourn the 2026 Annual Meeting to another date.

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How are votes counted?

Votes will be counted by the Inspector of Elections appointed for the 2026 Annual Meeting. The Inspector of Elections will separately count:

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“FOR,” “WITHHOLD” and broker non-votes for Proposal No. 1 (the election of directors);

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“FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, for Proposal No. 2 (the ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026);

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“FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes for Proposal No. 3 (the non-binding, advisory resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers);

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“FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes for Proposal No. 4 (the reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options); and

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“FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes for Proposal No. 5 (an increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan).

If your shares are held by your broker or other agent as your nominee (that is, held beneficially in “street name”), you will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct your broker or other agent to vote your shares. If you do not give voting instructions to your broker or other agent, your broker or other agent can only vote your shares with respect to “routine” matters (as described below).

What are “broker non-votes”?

If you hold shares beneficially in street name and do not provide your broker with voting instructions, your shares may constitute “broker non-votes.” Broker non-votes occur on a matter when a broker is not permitted to vote on that matter without instructions from the beneficial owner and instructions are not given. These matters are referred to as “non-routine” matters. Proposal No. 1 to elect directors, Proposal No. 3 to vote on the non-binding, advisory resolution to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, Proposal No. 4 to approve the reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options, and Proposal No. 5 to approve an increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan are “non-routine” matters, but Proposal No. 2 to ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 is a “routine” matter. A broker or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with Proposal No. 2. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and therefore there may be broker non-votes on Proposal No. 1, Proposal No. 3, Proposal No. 4, and Proposal No. 5. Broker non-votes will not be counted toward the vote total for any proposal at the 2026 Annual Meeting.

How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?

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Proposal No. 1 – To elect two Class III directors to hold office until the 2029 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders or until their successors are elected. The two nominees receiving the most “FOR” votes (from the votes of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors) will be elected. Broker non-votes will not be counted towards the vote total for this proposal.

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Proposal No. 2 – To ratify the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026. “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) are required to

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approve this proposal. Because Proposal No. 2 is considered a “routine” matter, no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with this proposal.

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Proposal No. 3 – A non-binding, advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers. “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares cast (excluding abstentions and broker non‑votes) are required to approve this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted towards the vote total for this proposal.

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Proposal No. 4 – To approve the reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options, “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares cast (excluding abstentions and broker non‑votes) are required to approve this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted towards the vote total for this proposal.

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Proposal No. 5 – To approve the increase in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan, “FOR” votes from the holders of a majority of the shares cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) are required to approve this proposal. Broker non-votes will not be counted towards the vote total for this proposal.

None of the proposals, if approved, entitles stockholders to appraisal rights under Delaware law or the Company’s governing documents.

How can I find out the results of the voting at the 2026 Annual Meeting?

We will disclose final voting results in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days after the 2026 Annual Meeting. If final voting results are unavailable at that time, then we intend to file a Current Report on Form 8-K to disclose preliminary voting results and file an amended Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after the date the final voting results are available.

When are stockholder proposals due for next year’s annual meeting?

Pursuant to Rule 14a-8, to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials for the 2027 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, your proposal must be submitted in writing by December 21, 2026, to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Coherus Oncology, Inc., 333 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 600, Redwood City, California 94065. However, if the meeting is not held between April 27, 2027 and June 26, 2027 then the deadline will be a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials for that meeting.

If you wish to submit a proposal before the stockholders or nominate a director at the 2027 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, but you are not requesting that your proposal or nomination be included in the proxy materials for that meeting, then you must follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws and, among other things, notify the Company’s Corporate Secretary in writing between January 27, 2027 and February 26, 2027. However, if the date of the 2027 Annual Meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after May 27, 2027, then you must give notice not later than the 90th day prior to that meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of that annual meeting date is first made. You are also advised to review our bylaws, which contain additional requirements regarding advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. In addition to satisfying the requirements under our bylaws, to comply with the universal proxy rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, no later than March 28, 2027, however, if the date of next year’s annual meeting has changed by more than 30 days from May 27, 2027, then notice must be provided by the later of 60 days before the date of next year’s annual meeting or the 10th day after the day on which the Company publicly announces the date of next year’s annual meeting.

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PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes. Each class is required to consist, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors, and each class has a three-year term. Except as otherwise provided by law, vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by individuals elected by a majority of the remaining directors. A director elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy in a particular class, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors, shall serve for the remainder of the full term of that class and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

Our Board of Directors currently consists of nine directors divided into the three following classes:

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the Class I directors are Rita A. Karachun, Lee N. Newcomer, MD and Charles W. Newton and their terms will expire at the 2027 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders;

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the Class II directors are Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, Ph.D., Michael Ryan, and Ali J. Satvat, and their terms will expire at the 2028 Annual Meeting; and

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the Class III directors are Georgia Erbez, Dennis M. Lanfear and Mats L. Wahlström, and their terms will expire at the 2026 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.

Our current Class III directors are Georgia Erbez, Dennis M. Lanfear, and Mats L. Wahlström. In April 2026, and in light of our Company’s scale transformation from a biosimilar company to an innovative oncology company, the Board of Directors determined to nominate only Mr. Lanfear and Mr. Wahlström for re-election. The Board subsequently determined to reduce the size of the Board from nine members to eight members effective immediately prior to the election of directors at the 2026 Annual Meeting. Mr. Lanfear and Mr. Wahlström have been nominated to serve as Class III directors and have agreed to stand for election. If the nominees for Class III are elected at the 2026 Annual Meeting, then each nominee will serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2029 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders, or until his successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.

Our directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast. If a choice is specified on the proxy card by a stockholder, the shares will be voted as specified. If a choice is not specified on the proxy card, and authority to do so is not withheld, the shares will be voted “FOR” the election of the two nominees for Class III named above. If any of the nominees becomes unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, shares that would have been voted for the nominee will instead be voted for the election of a substitute nominee proposed by the Company’s management or the Board of Directors. Each person nominated for election has agreed to serve if elected. Our management has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unable to serve.

The following is a brief biography and discussion of the specific attributes, qualifications, experience and skills of each nominee for director and each director whose term will continue after the 2026 Annual Meeting. Our Board of Directors and management encourage each nominee for director and each continuing director to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE TWO CLASS III NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.

CLASS I DIRECTORS – To continue in office until the 2027 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders

Rita A. Karachun, age 62, has served on our Board of Directors since May 2024. Ms. Karachun served at Merck & Co., Inc. as SVP and Global Controller from March 2014 until December 2023 where she managed a global team covering accounting and operational aspects of the company, including leading and developing the operating model for finance and driving the acceleration of the company’s global shared service model. Before becoming SVP and Global Controller, from February 2007 until February 2014, Ms. Karachun was Assistant Controller at Merck & Co., Inc. Previously, from 1996 until 2006, Ms. Karachun was Assistant Controller – Chief Accountant at AT&T Corp., where

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her work included leading the finance and accounting activities for the initial public offering of AT&T Capital Corp. Ms. Karachun has served as a member of the board of directors of Jersey Battered Women’s Service since July 2016. Ms. Karachun holds a B.S. in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University. We believe Ms. Karachun is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of her management and financial expertise and various leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry.

Lee N. Newcomer, MD, age 74, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since February 2022. Dr. Newcomer is a medical oncologist with a career spanning clinical medicine, healthcare administration and payer management. The majority of his career was with UnitedHealth Group. He was their Chief Medical Officer from 1991 to 2001. He returned in 2006 to lead an initiative combining clinical, financial and program management experts to focus on cancer care and departed UnitedHealth Group in March 2018. This team was the first to complete an episode payment program for cancer treatment and it created the first commercial cancer database combining clinical and claims data. From April 2018 to the present Dr. Newcomer has been working as a principal at Lee N. Newcomer Consulting. Prior to his work at UnitedHealth Group Dr. Newcomer practiced medical oncology for nine years in Minneapolis and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a former Chairman of Park Nicollet Health Services (HealthPartners), an integrated system of physicians and hospitals based in Minnesota with national recognition for its leadership in quality, safety, and cost effectiveness. He is a director at Myriad Genetics, Inc. and Cellworks Group Inc. Dr. Newcomer earned his MD degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. His clinical training included an internal medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a medical oncology fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine. He completed a Master of Health Administration from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1990. Dr. Newcomer was selected to serve on our Board of Directors because of his extensive experience and background in the healthcare sector.

Charles W. Newton, age 55, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2022, bringing nearly three decades of financial and executive expertise in the healthcare industry. Mr. Newton previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Lyell Immunopharma where he led financial strategy and operations, prior to which he served as Managing Director & Co-Head of Healthcare Investment Banking in the Americas at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Earlier in his career, he served as Managing Director & Co-Head of Healthcare Investment Banking in the Americas at Credit Suisse, Managing Director and Head of Western Region Healthcare Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley and as a Corporate Finance Analyst at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Newton currently serves as a board member at Novavax, Inc. and Keros Therapeutics. He previously served on the board of directors of 2seventy bio, Inc. until its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb, and Carmot Therapeutics, until its acquisition by Roche. Mr. Newton holds a Master of Business Administration from The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Miami University. We believe that Mr. Newton is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his management, operational, strategic and financial expertise in the health care sector.

CLASS II NOMINEES FOR DIRECTORS – To continue in office until the 2028 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders

Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, Ph.D., age 70, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2022. Dr. O’Donnell-Tormey served as the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Scientific Affairs of the Cancer Research Institute, or CRI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing immunotherapy, from 1993 until September 2024. Under her leadership, the CRI saw its annual budget increase from $5 million to over $40 million. Dr. O’Donnell-Tormey joined CRI in 1987 and served as its Director of Scientific Affairs until 1993. Dr. O’Donnell-Tormey was a member of the board of directors of HemaCare Corporation, a blood banking company, from 2018 to 2020. She received a B.S. in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the State University of New York Health Science Center. We believe that Dr. O’Donnell Tormey is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to her background and various leadership roles in the life sciences field.

Michael Ryan, age 71, has served on our Board of Directors since July 2023. Dr. Ryan is currently the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Koios Enterprises & Consulting, an executive consulting firm specializing in patient access with a focus on evidence generation, value, pricing and policy solutions that enable patient access. Dr. Ryan has four decades of experience working in academia and the biopharmaceutical industry bringing therapeutics to patients, and previously served as Senior Vice President, U.S. and Worldwide Value, Access, Pricing and Health Economics and Outcomes Research at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, or BMS, a multinational pharmaceutical company from

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December 2015 to March 2023. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Senior Vice President, U.S. Value, Access, Policy and Health Economics and Outcomes Research at BMS. Prior to BMS, from December 1999 to December 2015, he served as Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Reimbursement, Value, and Access at Amgen Inc., or Amgen, a multinational pharmaceutical company. Prior to Amgen, he served as Vice President, Department of Pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Chairman, Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and Associate Director and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan Hospitals’ Department of Pharmacy Services and College of Pharmacy. Dr. Ryan earned his B.A. at the University of California, Los Angeles and his Pharm.D. from the University of California at San Francisco. He completed his residency program in Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Michigan. We believe Mr. Ryan is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his background and various leadership roles in the pharmaceutical field.

Ali J. Satvat, age 48, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since May 2014. Mr. Satvat joined KKR in January 2012 and is a Partner, Co-Head of the Health Care industry team within KKR’s Americas Private Equity platform, and Global Head of KKR Health Care Strategic Growth. Mr. Satvat is a member of the Investment Committee and the Portfolio Management Committee for KKR’s Americas Private Equity platform, chairs the Investment Committee and the Portfolio Management Committee for KKR Health Care Strategic Growth, and manages KKR’s controlling interest in HealthCare Royalty Partners. Mr. Satvat has served on various public and private boards of directors, including BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. since March 2016, PRA Health Sciences, Inc. from September 2013 through April 2018, Eidos Therapeutics, Inc. from June 2018 through January 2021, and Impel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from December 2018 through April 2024. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Satvat was a Principal with Apax Partners, where he focused on health care private equity and growth equity investments. Previously, Mr. Satvat held various positions with Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Audax Group, and The Blackstone Group. Mr. Satvat holds an A.B. in History and Science from Harvard College and an M.B.A. in Health Care Management and Entrepreneurial Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Satvat previously served as a member of the board of directors of the Healthcare Private Equity Association and has been involved in a number of non-profit organizations. We believe that Mr. Satvat is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors based on his extensive investment and board experience in the health care industry.

CLASS III DIRECTOR NOT STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE BOARD – To continue in office until immediately prior to election of directors at the 2026 Annual Meeting

Georgia Erbez, age 59, has served on our Board of Directors since February 2024. Ms. Erbez currently serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer of Codexis, Inc., a public manufacturing technologies provider, since September 2024. She also serves as Managing Director of Axiom Financial Partners, a financial consulting firm, since November 2014. Ms. Erbez previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of Walking Fish Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, from September 2022 to October 2023, and as Chief Financial Officer of Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc., an immuno-oncology company, from October 2018 to September 2022. Ms. Erbez previously served on the board of directors of AltiBio, Inc., a private biotechnology company, from September 2018 to March 2023, Sierra Oncology, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company until its acquisition by GSK plc, and Artelo Biosciences, Inc., a public clinical stage biopharmaceutical company. Ms. Erbez earned her B.A. at the University of California, Davis. We believe Ms. Erbez is qualified to serve as a director because of her significant experience and background in the finance and biotechnology sector.

CLASS III DIRECTORS STANDING FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE BOARD – To be elected for a three-year term expiring at the 2029 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders

Dennis M. Lanfear, age 70, is our co-founder and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board of Directors since our inception in September 2010. Mr. Lanfear previously was President of InteKrin Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2005 to May 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Lanfear served in various senior leadership roles at Amgen Inc., a biopharmaceutical company from 1986 to 1999. While at Amgen, Mr. Lanfear had key leadership positions in the Process Development department, which under his management became an area of key strategic advantage for Amgen. From 1997 to 1999 Mr. Lanfear was Vice President, Market Development, focusing on long-term strategy for Epogen®, a multi-billion dollar drug. Mr. Lanfear also held senior leadership roles in several product development programs including those for growth factors, somatotrophins and neurotrophins and

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directed efforts from preclinical studies to Phase 3 clinical trials at Amgen. From 2019 – 2025, Mr. Lanfear served as a director for Neuvogen, Inc., a cancer vaccine company, including as Chair of the Financing Committee. Mr. Lanfear holds B.S. degrees in both Chemical Engineering and in Biochemistry from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles. We believe Mr. Lanfear is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his background and various leadership roles in the biopharmaceutical field.

Mats L. Wahlström, age 71, has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January 2012. He currently serves as the CEO and Chairman of Leonard Capital, LLC, Co-Chairman of HW Investment Partners, LLC, Chairman of Triomed AB since October 2016, Chairman of TriSalus Lifesciences Inc. since January 2017 and Chairman of Caduceus Medical Holdings, Inc. since August 2010. Mr. Wahlström served as a senior leader and Executive Chairman of KMG Capital Partners, LLC from April 2012 to May 2023. He has served on the boards of directors of Alteco Medical AB from October 2012 to July 2025 and Circuit Clinical Solutions, Inc. since July 2016. From January 2004 to December 2009, Mr. Wahlström served as co-CEO of Fresenius Medical Care North America and a member of the management board at Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGAA. From November 2002 to December 2009, he served as President and CEO of Fresenius Medical Services, which operated more than 1,700 dialysis clinics in the U.S. Prior to joining Fresenius Medical Care in 2002, he held various positions at Gambro AB in Sweden, including President of Gambro North America and Chief Executive Officer of Gambro Healthcare Inc. as well as Chief Financial Officer of the Gambro Group. Mr. Wahlström has a B.S. degree in Economics and Business Administration from University of Lund, Sweden. We believe Mr. Wahlström is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors because of his extensive management and director experience in the life sciences and healthcare sectors.

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PROPOSAL NO. 2

RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has selected Ernst & Young LLP, or EY, as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, and is seeking ratification of such selection by our stockholders at the 2026 Annual Meeting. EY has audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023. Representatives of EY are expected to be present at the 2026 Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Neither our bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification of the selection of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm. However, the Audit Committee is submitting the selection of EY to our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If our stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain EY. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if they determine that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares cast at the 2026 Annual Meeting will be required to ratify the selection of EY. Abstentions will not be counted as votes cast on this proposal. No broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with this proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS

A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL NO. 2.

The following information sets out the fees for professional services rendered by EY, during the fiscal years 2025 and 2024:


		Year Ended December 31,
		2025			2024

Audit Fees(1)		$	3,483,500		$	4,208,657
Audit-Related Fees(2)			—			—
Tax Fees(3)			—			114,370
All Other Fees(4)			—			—
Total All Fees		$	3,483,500		$	4,323,027

(1)

This category consists of fees for professional services for the audit of the Company’s 2025 and 2024 annual financial statements, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to each of those years, the review of quarterly financial statements, issuance of comfort letters and consents, and for services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with other statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

(2)	This category consists of fees for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements and that are not reported under the Audit Fees category. We did not incur any such fees in this category in 2025 or 2024.

(3)	This category consists of fees for professional services rendered for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

(4)	This category consists of fees for any other products and professional services provided by EY. We did not incur any such fees in 2025 or 2024.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services to be performed for the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm. This policy is set forth in the charter of the Audit Committee and available at https://investors.coherus.com. The Audit Committee has considered the role of EY in providing audit and audit-related services to the Company and has concluded that such services are compatible with EY’s role as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The material in this report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed “filed” with the SEC, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to oversee the Company’s financial reporting processes on behalf of the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee’s functions are more fully described in its charter, which is available on the Company’s website at https://investors.coherus.com.

In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. The Audit Committee has discussed with EY, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, the matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees,” issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB. The Audit Committee also received the written disclosures and the letter from EY required by the PCAOB regarding EY’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with EY its independence. The Audit Committee has determined that EY is independent from the Company and its management.

The Audit Committee discussed with EY, with and without management present, the scope and results of EY’s audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

Based on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 for filing with the SEC.

Audit Committee

Rita A. Karachun (Chair)

Georgia Erbez

Ali J. Satvat

Mats L. Wahlström

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PROPOSAL NO. 3

NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Summary

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or Dodd-Frank, enables our stockholders to vote to approve, on a non-binding basis, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC’s rules. This vote is commonly known as a “say-on-pay” vote. Accordingly, we are seeking a non-binding, advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as described in the section of this proxy statement titled “Executive Compensation” and the compensation tables and accompanying narrative disclosure that follow.

Our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors believe that the information provided in the section of this proxy statement titled “Executive Compensation,” the compensation tables and accompanying narrative disclosure demonstrates that our executive compensation program is designed appropriately, emphasizes pay for performance and aligns management’s interests with our stockholders’ interests to support long-term value creation.

Board Recommendation

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:

RESOLVED, that stockholders of Coherus Oncology, Inc. approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in this proxy statement, the compensation tables and the accompanying narrative disclosure of this proxy statement.

While the vote on this resolution is advisory and not binding on us, our Compensation Committee and Board of Directors value thoughtful input from stockholders and will consider the outcome of the vote on this resolution when considering future executive compensation decisions. Our Board of Directors has adopted a policy of providing for annual advisory votes from stockholders on named executive officer compensation. Unless our Board of Directors modifies its policy on the frequency of future say-on-pay advisory votes, the next “say-on-pay” advisory vote will be held at the 2027 annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE, ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY BASIS, FOR THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

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PROPOSAL NO. 4

APPROVAL OF THE REDUCTION IN THE EXERCISE PRICE OF CERTAIN OUTSTANDING STOCK OPTIONS

Overview

We are requesting stockholders approve a one-time reduction in the exercise price of certain outstanding stock options that have an exercise price of $5.00 or more granted to our employees, including our executive officers and certain consultants but excluding non-employee directors (collectively, “Service Providers”) under our Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and the 2016 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), which as of March 31, 2026 covers a total of 9,540,140 shares of our common stock (such options, the “Eligible Options” and such reduction, the “Repricing”). The Eligible Options were granted from 2016 through 2023, and they currently have per share exercise prices between $5.44 and $30.98.

The Board has approved the Repricing subject to stockholder approval at this Annual Meeting. If approved by the stockholders, the exercise price of each Eligible Option will automatically be reduced to the closing trading price per share of our common stock on the date of the Annual Meeting. If this Proposal No. 4 is not approved by the stockholders, then we will not implement the Repricing. However, we may need to consider alternative compensation structures to achieve the objectives for which the Repricing was designed.

The Board believes that the Repricing is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and recommends that the stockholders vote for approval of this Proposal No. 4.

Determination to Pursue the Repricing

In considering whether to implement the Repricing, the Board was concerned that adverse changes in the market price of our common stock since the Eligible Options were granted could materially interfere with the Company’s efforts to retain the service of the holders of the Eligible Options. Over the past few years, our stock price has remained well below our historical norms as the Company transitioned from a biosimilar company to an innovative oncology company. This has resulted in our Service Providers holding options with exercise prices meaningfully above the recent trading range of our common stock (often referred to as “underwater” or “out-of-the-money”), making the options a less effective means of incentivizing and retaining our Service Providers. The Service Providers who stayed with the Company to date despite their shares remaining underwater for an extended period of time are critical to our future as an innovative oncology company. While we continue to believe that stock options are an important component of the Company’s compensation program, the underwater stock options may be perceived by their holders as having little or no incentive and retention effect due to the difference between the exercise prices and our current stock price. The Board believes that the Repricing is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, as the Repricing will restore the incentive and retentive benefit of the Eligible Options. In order to enhance the retentive benefit of the Repricing, except as otherwise determined by the Board or its Compensation Committee, if a Service Provider holding Eligible Options terminates service with us or exercises an Eligible Option, in each case, prior to May 27, 2027, the exercise price of the Eligible Option will automatically increase to its original exercise price.

Prior to approving the Repricing, the Board considered the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, which reviewed an analysis prepared by Aon plc (“Aon”), the committee’s independent compensation consultant, as well as several alternatives to the Repricing. These alternatives included:

•

Extending an offer to exchange underwater options for another form of equity compensation. However, any exchange proposal would have required compliance with tender offer rules, resulting in added costs, complexities, and burdens on our resources.

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•

Granting additional options or other types of equity awards. However, this would result in increasing our overhang of outstanding equity awards, and we believe that adjusting already outstanding options would better serve the interests of our stockholders.

•

Waiting out the volatility in anticipation of future clinical results. However, we are concerned that if we do not improve the Eligible Option holders’ prospects of receiving long-term value from their options, we will undermine their long-term commitment to us. We will also forgo an opportunity to better align their interests with the interests of our stockholders.

The Board ultimately determined that the Repricing would be the most effective tool in obtaining our objective of realigning interests of the Eligible Option holders with those of our stockholders because it provides a direct and straightforward means of resetting the incentive value of the Eligible Options.

Specifics of the Repricing

In the event the stockholders approve this proposal, the Eligible Options held by our Service Providers will automatically be repriced to the closing trading price per share of our common stock on May 27, 2026, the date of our Annual Meeting. In addition, the term of all Eligible Options will be extended for 10 years from May 27, 2026. However, except as otherwise determined by the Board or its Compensation Committee, if any holder of an Eligible Option terminates service with the Company, or if a holder exercises his or her Eligible Option, in each case, prior to May 27, 2027, the exercise price of the holder’s Eligible Options will automatically increase to the original exercise price.

Except for the reduction in the exercise price of the Eligible Options and the extension in the term of the Eligible Options, the Repricing will have no other impact on the Eligible Options and all outstanding stock options under the 2014 Plan and the 2016 Plan will continue to remain outstanding in accordance with all of the current terms and conditions set forth in the 2014 Plan and the 2016 Plan and the applicable award agreements.

The following table provides information as of March 31, 2026 regarding the Eligible Options. The closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on that date was $1.69 per share.


				Weighted Average
	Exercise Price		Weighted Average	Remaining Term of
	of Eligible	Number of Shares	Exercise Price of	Eligible Options
	Options ($)	Underlying Eligible Options	Eligible Options ($)	(Years)
Employees	5.44 to 30.98	5,521,251	$ 13.10	4.5
Executive Officers	5.44 to 18.33	3,748,889	$ 13.95	4.1
Certain Consultants	9.28 to 29.71	270,000	$ 16.57	3.1

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Eligible Option Holders

All of our employees (including our two active named executive officers) and certain consultants hold Eligible Options that potentially benefit from the Repricing. The following table sets forth, with respect to the individuals and groups identified therein, the number of shares subject to Eligible Options and the weighted average exercise price of the Eligible Options, in each case, as of March 31, 2026. If a holder of an Eligible Option terminates service with us or exercises an Eligible Option, in each case, prior to May 27, 2027, the exercise price of his or her Eligible Options will automatically increase to the original exercise price.


	Number of Shares	Weighted Average
	Subject to	Exercise Price of
Name and Position	Eligible Options (#)	Eligible Options ($)
Named Executive Officers:
Dennis M. Lanfear, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman	3,528,889	$ 14.09
Bryan McMichael, Chief Financial Officer	220,000	$ 11.66

All Current Executive Officers as a Group (2 persons)	3,748,889	$ 13.95

All Current Non-Executive Officer Employees as a group (87 persons)	5,521,251	$ 13.10
Consultants as a group (5 persons)	270,000	$ 16.57

Interests of Certain Persons in the Repricing

In considering the recommendation of the Board with respect to the approval of the Repricing, stockholders should be aware that, as discussed above, executive officers hold Eligible Options that will be repriced in the Repricing. The Board recognizes that approval of this proposal may benefit our executive officers and their successors.

Accounting Treatment of the Repricing

We have adopted the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”) regarding accounting for share-based payments. Under FASB ASC Topic 718, we will recognize any incremental compensation cost of the Eligible Options subject to the Repricing. The incremental compensation cost will be measured as the excess, if any, of the fair value of the repriced Eligible Options immediately following the Repricing over the fair value of the Eligible Options immediately prior to the Repricing.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a general summary as of this date of the federal income tax consequences to us and to U.S. participants for options granted under the 2014 Plan or the 2016 Plan. The federal tax laws may change and the tax consequences for any participant will depend upon his or her individual circumstances. Tax consequences for any particular individual may be different. This summary does not purport to be complete, and does not discuss state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences.

Incentive Stock Options. For income tax purposes, the repricing of an Eligible Option that is an incentive stock option, or “ISO,” is treated as a new option granted as of the date of the repricing.

The grant (including the deemed grant as a result of the repricing) or exercise of an ISO under the 2014 Plan or the 2016 Plan is not expected to result in any federal income tax consequences to the participant or to the Company. However, the amount by which the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise exceeds the option price will be an “item of adjustment” for participants for purposes of the alternative minimum tax, unless the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of in the same year the ISO is exercised. Gain realized by participants on the sale of shares underlying an ISO is taxable at capital gains rates, and no tax deduction is available to the Company, unless the participant disposes of the shares within (i) two years after the date of grant of the option or (ii) within one year of the date the shares were transferred to the participant. If the shares are sold or otherwise disposed of before the end of the one-year and two-year periods specified above, the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market

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value of the shares on the date of the option’s exercise (or the date of sale, if less) will be taxed at ordinary income rates, and the Company will be entitled to a deduction to the extent that the participant recognizes ordinary income.

Non-Qualified Stock Options. The grant or repricing of a non-qualified option under the 2014 Plan or 2016 Plan is not expected to result in any federal income tax consequences to the participant or to the Company. Generally, upon exercise of a non-qualified option, the participant will realize ordinary income, and the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction, in an amount equal to the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise.

Tax Effect for the Company. We generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with the Repricing in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by the holder at the time the holder recognizes such income (for example, the exercise of a non-qualified stock option). Special rules limit the deductibility of compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and other “covered employees” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Under Code Section 162(m), the annual compensation paid to any of these specified service providers will be deductible only to the extent that it does not exceed $1,000,000.

Financial Statements

Our financial statements and other information required by Item 13(a) are incorporated by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2026.

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the approval of the reduction in the exercise price of certain options to purchase our common stock.

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PROPOSAL NO. 5

APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2014 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

Introduction

Our stockholders are being asked to approve an amendment (the “Equity Plan Amendment”) to our Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the “2014 Plan” and, as amended by the Equity Plan Amendment, the “Amended Plan”), to increase the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted under the 2014 Plan by 7,700,000 shares of common stock. This increase is essential to support our planned operations and sustain our current commercial momentum, and our ability to utilize equity to attract and retain talent in our industry as a key driver for long-term stockholder value.

Our Board of Directors approved the Equity Plan Amendment on April 8, 2026, subject to stockholder approval. The Equity Plan Amendment will become effective as of the date our stockholders approve the Equity Plan Amendment. If the Equity Plan Amendment is not approved by our stockholders, the 2014 Plan, as in effect immediately prior to the approval of the Equity Plan Amendment by our board of directors, will remain in full force and effect.

Overview of Proposed Amendment

We strongly believe that an employee equity compensation program is a necessary and powerful incentive and retention tool that benefits all stockholders. As of March 31, 2026, the total number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan since inception was 32,416,811. As of March 31, 2026, the aggregate number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding awards under the Amended Plan was 31,141,375 and a total of 1,315,706 shares of common stock remained available under the Amended Plan for future issuance. Pursuant to the Equity Plan Amendment, an additional 7,700,000 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan over the existing share reserve, subject to stockholder approval.

In addition to increases as a result of forfeiture, repurchase, expiration or cash settlement of awards under the Amended Plan, the Amended Plan provides that shares reserved for issuance under the Amended Plan will also be increased by the number of shares of common stock subject to awards granted under our 2016 Employment Commencement Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”) that lapse, are repurchased, are forfeited, or expired. The 2016 Plan was terminated in June 2024, but awards remain outstanding pursuant to its terms.

All of the foregoing share numbers may be adjusted for changes in our capitalization and certain corporate transactions, as described below under the heading “Adjustments.”

The 2014 Plan is not being amended in any material respect other than to reflect an increase of 7,700,000 shares reserved for issuance described above. A copy of the Equity Plan Amendment is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement.

Equity Incentive Awards Are Critical to Long-Term Stockholder Value Creation

We believe that the approval of the Equity Plan Amendment is essential to our success. Equity awards are intended to motivate high levels of performance, align the interests of our directors, employees and consultants with those of our stockholders by giving directors, employees and consultants the perspective of an owner with an equity stake in our company and providing a means of recognizing their contributions to the success of our company. Our Board of Directors and management believe that equity awards are necessary to remain competitive in our industry and are essential to recruiting and retaining the highly qualified employees who help our company meet its goals.

Our equity incentive program is broad-based. As of March 31, 2026, 100% of our employees had received grants of equity awards, 26 current consultants had received grants of equity awards and all eight of our non-employee directors had received grants of equity awards. We believe we must continue to offer a competitive equity compensation plan in order to attract, retain and motivate the industry-leading talent imperative to our continued growth and success.

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Outstanding Awards Under Existing Plans — Ability to Grant Future Equity Awards is Limited

The table below presents information about the number of shares that were subject to various outstanding equity awards under our equity plans, and the shares remaining available for issuance under each such plan, each at March 31, 2026. The 2014 Plan is the only equity incentive plan we currently have in place under which we can grant awards (other than the shares available for purchase under our 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the 2014 ESPP).


	Number of Shares and Related Information	As a % of Shares Outstanding(1)	Dollar Value (2)
2016 Plan
Options outstanding	2,491,613	1.6%	4,210,826
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options	$ 13.29
Weighted average exercise remaining term of outstanding options (in years)	3.5
Restricted stock units outstanding	—	0.0%	—
Restricted stock awards outstanding	—	—	—
Shares available for future issuance under the 2016 Plan	—	0.0%	—

2014 Plan
Options outstanding	29,593,812	19.2%	50,013,542
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options	$ 6.40
Weighted average exercise remaining term of outstanding options (in years)	6.1
Restricted stock units outstanding	1,547,563	1.0%	2,615,381
Restricted stock awards outstanding	—	—	—
Shares available for future issuance under the 2014 Plan	1,315,706	0.9%	2,223,543

Amended Plan
Proposed increase to share reserve under Amended Plan (over existing share reserve under 2014 Plan)	7,700,000	5.0%	13,013,000

(1) Based on 154,217,609 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2026.

(2) Based on the closing price of our common stock on March 31, 2026, of $1.69 per share.

Background for the Determination of the Share Reserve under the Amended Plan

In determining whether to approve the Equity Plan Amendment, our Board of Directors considered that:

●

In setting the size of the share reserve under the Amended Plan, as described above, our Board of Directors considered the historical amounts of equity awards granted by our company in the past three years. In 2023, 2024 and 2025, equity awards representing a total of approximately 6,522,360 shares, 12,320,250 shares, and 6,257,000 shares, respectively, were granted under our 2014 Plan, for an annual equity burn rate of 5.8%, 10.7% and 5.2%, respectively. This level of equity awards represents a 3-year average burn rate attributable to our 2014 Plan of 7.2% of common shares outstanding. Equity burn rate is calculated by dividing the number of shares subject to equity awards granted during the fiscal year by the number of common shares outstanding at the end of the fiscal year.

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We expect the share authorization under the Amended Plan to provide us with enough shares for awards for approximately two years, assuming we continue to grant awards consistent with our current practices and historical usage, as reflected in our historical burn rate, and further dependent on the price of our shares and hiring activity during the next few years, forfeitures of outstanding awards, and noting that future circumstances may require us to change our current equity grant practices. We cannot predict our future equity grant practices, the future price of our shares or future hiring activity with any degree of certainty at this time, and the share reserve under the Amended Plan could last for a shorter or longer time.

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In 2023, 2024 and 2025, our end of year overhang rate (excluding shares available for issuance under our 2014 ESPP) was 25.0%, 30.7% and 29.0%, respectively. If the Equity Plan Amendment is approved, our overhang rate attributable to the Amended Plan at the end of 2026 would be approximately 27.8%. Overhang for this purpose is calculated by dividing (1) the sum of the number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding at the end of the fiscal year plus shares remaining available for issuance for future awards at the end of the fiscal year (excluding shares available for issuance under our 2014 ESPP) by (2) the number of shares outstanding at the end of the fiscal year.

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In light of the factors described above, and the fact that the ability to continue to grant equity compensation is vital to our ability to continue to attract and retain employees in the extremely competitive labor markets in which we compete, our Board of Directors has determined that the size of the share reserve under the Amended Plan is reasonable and appropriate at this time.

Other Key Features of the Amended Plan

The Amended Plan reflects a broad range of compensation and governance best practices, with some of the key features of the Amended Plan as follows:

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No Increase to Shares Available for Issuance without Stockholder Approval. Without stockholder approval, the Amended Plan prohibits any alteration or amendment that operates to increase the total number of shares of common stock that may be issued under the Amended Plan (other than adjustments in connection with certain corporate reorganizations and other events).

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No Repricing of Awards. Other than pursuant to the provisions of the Amended Plan described below under the headings “Adjustments” and “Corporate Transactions,” the plan administrator may not without the approval of the company’s stockholders (1) lower the exercise price of an option or SAR after it is granted or (2) cancel an option or SAR when the exercise price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying shares in exchange for cash or another award.

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Limitations on Dividend Payments on Unvested Awards. Dividends and dividend equivalents may not be paid on awards subject to vesting conditions unless and until such conditions are met. Dividend equivalents may not be paid on stock options or SARs.

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No In-the-Money Option or Stock Appreciation Right Grants. The Amended Plan prohibits the grant of options or SARs with an exercise or base price less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant.

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Minimum Vesting. Subject to limited exceptions, no awards granted under the Amended Plan may vest until the first anniversary of the grant date (subject to limited exceptions).

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Independent Administration. The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors, which consists of two or more non-employee directors, generally will administer the Amended Plan. The full Board of Directors will administer the Amended Plan with respect to awards granted to members of the Board. The Compensation Committee may delegate certain of its duties and authorities to a committee of one or more directors or officers of the company for awards to certain individuals, within specific guidelines and limitations. However, no delegation of authority is permitted with respect to awards made to individuals who (1) are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (2) are officers of the company and have been delegated authority to grant or amend awards under the Amended Plan.

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No Automatic Change in Control Vesting for Awards. The Amended Plan does not have automatic accelerated vesting provisions for awards in connection with a change of control (other than in connection with the non-assumption of awards).

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Limitations on Grants to Directors. The Amended Plan provides for limitations on grants to non-employee directors such that the sum of the grant date fair value of all equity awards and the maximum amount that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based awards granted to a non-employee director as compensation for services as a non-employee director during any fiscal year of the company may not exceed $2,000,000.

Stockholder Approval

In general, stockholder approval of the Amended Plan will implement the foregoing share reserve increase and extension of the term while (1) complying with the terms of the 2014 Plan regarding amendments and (2) meeting the stockholder approval requirements of Nasdaq. If the Amended Plan is not approved by our stockholders, the Amended Plan will not become effective, the 2014 Plan will continue in full force and effect, and we may continue to grant awards under the 2014 Plan, subject to its terms, conditions and limitations, using the shares available for issuance thereunder.

Summary of the Amended Plan

The principal features of the Amended Plan are summarized below, but the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2014 Plan itself, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2025, and the Equity Plan Amendment, which is attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement.

Securities Subject to the Amended Plan

As of March 31, 2026, a total of 32,416,811 shares of our common stock are authorized for issuance under the 2014 Plan. Pursuant to the Amended Plan, the number of shares of our common stock authorized for issuance as of the effective date of the Amended Plan will be increased by 7,700,000 shares.

If any shares subject to an award under the Amended Plan or the 2016 Plan are forfeited, expire or are settled for cash, any shares subject to such award will, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, be available for future grants under the Amended Plan. If any shares of restricted stock are forfeited by a participant or repurchased by us pursuant to the Amended Plan or 2016 Plan, such shares shall again be available for future grant or sale under the Amended Plan. The payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding awards shall not be counted against the shares of stock available for issuance under the Amended Plan.

To the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, and subject to certain other restrictions, shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards or shares available under a pre-existing plan of an entity acquired by the company or any of its subsidiaries that was approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition will not be counted against the shares available for grant under the Amended Plan.

In no event will more than 18,846,815 shares of common stock be issuable pursuant to the exercise of ISOs following the effective date of the Amended Plan.

Administration

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors will generally administer the Amended Plan (except with respect to any award granted to non-employee directors, which must be administered by our full Board of Directors). Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the members of the Compensation Committee are intended to each be a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange on which the shares of our common stock are listed. The Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee may delegate certain of its duties and authorities to a committee of one or more directors or officers of the company for awards to certain individuals, within specific guidelines and limitations. However, no delegation of authority is permitted with respect to awards made to individuals who (1) are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (2) are officers of the company and have been delegated authority to grant or amend awards under the Amended Plan. The Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors or any such subcommittee to which authority to grant awards has been delegated are referred to herein as the “plan administrator.” Subject to the terms and conditions of

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the Amended Plan, the plan administrator has the authority to select the persons to whom awards are to be made, to determine the type or types of awards to be granted to each person, the number of awards to grant, the number of shares to be subject to such awards, and the terms and conditions of such awards, and to make all other determinations and decisions and to take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the Amended Plan. The plan administrator is also authorized to establish, adopt, amend or revise rules relating to administration of the Amended Plan. Our Board of Directors may at any time revest in itself the authority to administer the Amended Plan.

Eligibility

Options, SARs, restricted stock and other awards under the Amended Plan may be granted to individuals who are then our officers or employees or are the officers or employees of any of our subsidiaries. Such awards may also be granted to our non-employee directors and consultants but only employees may be granted ISOs. As of March 31, 2026, we had eight non-employee directors, 147 employees and approximately 16 consultants who were eligible to be granted awards under the Amended Plan. The closing share price per share for our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on March 31, 2026 was $1.69.

Awards

The Amended Plan provides that the plan administrator may grant or issue stock options, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, dividend equivalents, stock payments, and performance awards, or any combination thereof. The plan administrator will consider each award grant subjectively, considering factors such as the individual performance of the recipient and the anticipated contribution of the recipient to the attainment of our long-term goals. Each award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the person receiving the award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of the award.

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Nonqualified stock options, or NQSOs, provide for the right to purchase shares of our common stock at a specified price which may not be less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, and usually will become exercisable (at the discretion of the plan administrator) in one or more installments after the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued employment or service with us and/or subject to the satisfaction of performance targets established by the plan administrator. NQSOs may be granted with any term of up to ten years after the date of grant.

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ISOs are designed to comply with the provisions of the Code and are subject to specified restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, may only be granted to employees, must expire within a specified period of time following the optionee’s termination of employment, and must be exercised within the ten years after the date of grant. In the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the Amended Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the ISO must expire no later than the fifth anniversary of the date of its grant.

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Restricted stock may be granted to participants and made subject to such restrictions as may be determined by the plan administrator. Typically, restricted stock may be forfeited for no consideration if the conditions or restrictions are not met, and it may not be sold or otherwise transferred to third parties until restrictions are removed or expire. Recipients of restricted stock, unlike recipients of options, may have voting rights and may receive dividends, if any, prior to the time when the restrictions lapse, provided that any dividends paid on unvested shares will be subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying unvested shares.

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Restricted stock units may be awarded to participants, typically without payment of consideration or for a nominal purchase price, but subject to vesting conditions including continued employment or on performance criteria established by the plan administrator. Like restricted stock, restricted stock units may not be sold or otherwise transferred or hypothecated until vesting conditions are removed or expire. Unlike restricted stock, stock underlying restricted stock units will not be issued until the restricted stock units have vested, and

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recipients of restricted stock units generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

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SARs granted under the Amended Plan typically provide for payments to the holder based upon increases in the price of our common stock over the exercise price of the SAR. The exercise price of a SAR may not be less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant. SARs granted under the Amended Plan may not have a term in excess of ten years from the date of grant. The plan administrator may elect to pay SARs in cash or in common stock or in a combination of both.

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Dividend equivalents represent the value of the dividends, if any, per share paid by us, calculated with reference to the number of shares covered by the awards held by the participant. Dividends and dividend equivalents may not be paid on awards subject to vesting conditions unless and until such conditions are met. Dividend equivalents may not be paid on stock options or SARs.

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Stock payments may be authorized by the plan administrator in the form of common stock or an option or other right to purchase common stock as part of a deferred compensation arrangement, made in lieu of all or any part of compensation, including bonuses, that would otherwise be payable to employees, consultants or members of our Board of Directors.

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Performance awards, including performance stock units and other cash bonus, stock bonus or other incentive awards, may be authorized by the plan administrator. The value of performance awards may be linked to any one or more performance criteria determined by the plan administrator on a specified date or over a specified period determined by the plan administrator.

Minimum Vesting

Awards granted under the Amended Plan may vest no earlier than the first anniversary of the date of grant, provided that such minimum vesting requirement will not apply to: (i) awards delivered in lieu of fully-vested cash-based awards under the Amended Plan (or other fully-vested cash awards or payments); (ii) awards to non-employee directors for which the vesting period runs from the date of one annual meeting of stockholders to the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders that is at least 50 weeks after the preceding year’s annual meeting; or (iii) any other awards that result in an issuance of up to 5% of the shares reserved for issuance under the Amended Plan as of its effective date. In addition, the plan administrator may accelerate the vesting of an award in connection with or following a participant’s death, disability, termination of service or a change in control.

Limitations on Awards

The sum of the grant date fair value of all equity awards and the maximum amount that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based awards that may be granted as compensation for services as a non-employee director may not exceed $2,000,000 in any calendar year.

Tax Withholding

The Amended Plan permits the plan administrator to allow for the withholding or surrender of shares in satisfaction of tax withholding with respect to awards with a value up to the maximum individual statutory tax rate in the applicable jurisdiction at the time of such withholding (or such other rate as may be required to avoid the liability classification of the applicable award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America).

Transferability of Awards

Unless the plan administrator provides otherwise, the Amended Plan generally does not allow for the transfer of awards, and only the recipient of an option or SAR may exercise such an award during his or her lifetime.

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Forfeiture, Recoupment and Clawback Provisions

Pursuant to its general authority to determine the terms and conditions applicable to awards under the Amended Plan, the plan administrator has the right to provide, in an award agreement or otherwise, that an award shall be subject to the provisions of any recoupment or clawback policies implemented by us, including, without limitation, any recoupment or clawback policies adopted to comply with the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

Adjustments

If there is any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of our assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of our common stock or the share price of our common stock other than an equity restructuring (as defined in the Amended Plan), the plan administrator may make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the plan administrator in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (1) the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Amended Plan (including individual award limits, the limit on ISOs under the Amended Plan and the manner in which shares subject to full value awards are counted), (2) the number and type of shares subject to outstanding awards, (3) the number and type of shares for which any automatic grants to non-employee directors are made, (4) the terms and conditions of any outstanding awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto), and (5) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding awards under the plan. If there is any equity restructuring, (1) the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding award and the grant or exercise price per share for each outstanding award, if applicable, will be proportionately adjusted, and (2) the plan administrator will make proportionate adjustments to reflect such equity restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Amended Plan (including individual award limits, the limit on ISOs under the Amended Plan and the manner in which shares subject to full value awards are counted). Adjustments in the event of an equity restructuring will not be discretionary. The plan administrator also has the authority under the Amended Plan to take certain other actions with respect to outstanding awards in the event of a corporate transaction, including provision for the cash-out, termination, assumption or substitution of such awards.

Corporate Transactions

In the event of a change in control where the acquirer does not assume awards granted under the Amended Plan, awards issued under the Amended Plan will be subject to accelerated vesting such that 100% of the awards will become vested and exercisable or payable, as applicable. Under the Amended Plan, a change in control is generally defined as:

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a transaction or series of related transactions (other than an offering of our stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the SEC) whereby any person or entity or related group of persons or entities (other than us, our subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by us or any of our subsidiaries or a person or entity that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, us) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the total combined voting power of our securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition;

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during any two-year period, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute our Board of Directors together with any new director(s) whose election by our Board of Directors or nomination for election by our stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of our Board of Directors; or

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our consummation (whether we are directly or indirectly involved through one or more intermediaries) of (1) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (2) the sale, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets in any single transaction or series of transactions or (3) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction: (x) which results in our voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into our voting securities or the voting securities of the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls us, directly or indirectly, or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of our assets or otherwise succeeds to our business (we or such person being referred to as a successor entity)) directly or

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indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the successor entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and (y) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the successor entity; provided, however, that no person or group is treated as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the successor entity solely as a result of the voting power held in us prior to the consummation of the transaction.

Amendment of the Amended Plan; Repricing Prohibited

Our Compensation Committee or Board of Directors may terminate, amend or modify the Amended Plan. However, stockholder approval of any amendment to the Amended Plan will be obtained to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule, or for any amendment to the Amended Plan that increases the number of shares available under the Amended Plan. No incentive stock option may be granted under the Amended Plan after the tenth anniversary of the date our Board of Directors approved the Amended Plan.

In addition, other than pursuant to the provisions of the Amended Plan described above under the headings “Adjustments” and “Corporate Transactions,” the plan administrator may not without the approval of the company’s stockholders (1) lower the exercise price of an option or SAR after it is granted or (2) cancel an option or SAR when the exercise price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying shares in exchange for cash or another award.

Securities Laws

The Amended Plan is intended to conform with all provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any and all regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, including without limitation Rule 16b-3. The Amended Plan will be administered, and options will be granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.

Federal Income Tax Consequences Associated with the Amended Plan

The federal income tax consequences of the Amended Plan under current federal income tax law are summarized in the following discussion which deals with the general tax principles applicable to the Amended Plan and is intended for general information only. The following discussion of federal income tax consequences does not purport to be a complete analysis of all of the potential tax effects of the Amended Plan. It is based upon laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change. This summary is not intended to be complete and does not describe foreign, state and local tax laws, employment, estate or gift tax considerations. The tax information summarized is not tax advice.

Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights. An Amended Plan participant generally will not recognize taxable income and we generally will not be entitled to a tax deduction upon the grant of a stock option or stock appreciation right. The tax consequences of exercising a stock option and the subsequent disposition of the shares received upon exercise will depend upon whether the option qualifies as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code. The Amended Plan permits the grant of options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options as well as options that are not intended to so qualify; however, incentive stock options generally may be granted only to our employees and employees of our parent or subsidiary corporations, if any. Upon exercising an option that does not qualify as an incentive stock option when the fair market value of our stock is higher than the exercise price of the option, an Amended Plan participant generally will recognize taxable income at ordinary income tax rates equal to the excess of the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise over the purchase price, and we (or our subsidiaries, if any) generally will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction for compensation expense, in the amount equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the shares purchased exceeds the purchase price for the shares. Upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the option shares, the participant will recognize a short term or long term capital gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the sales price of the shares and the participant’s tax basis in the shares.

Upon exercising an incentive stock option, an Amended Plan participant generally will not recognize taxable income, and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction for compensation expense. However, upon exercise, the amount by which the fair market value of the shares purchased exceeds the purchase price will be an item of adjustment for

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alternative minimum tax purposes. The participant will recognize taxable income upon a sale or other taxable disposition of the option shares. For federal income tax purposes, dispositions are divided into two categories: qualifying and disqualifying. A qualifying disposition generally occurs if the sale or other disposition is made more than two years after the date the option was granted and more than one year after the date the shares are transferred upon exercise. If the sale or disposition occurs before these two periods are satisfied, then a disqualifying disposition generally will result.

Upon a qualifying disposition of incentive stock option shares, the participant will recognize long term capital gain in an amount equal to the excess of the amount realized upon the sale or other disposition of the shares over their purchase price. If there is a disqualifying disposition of the shares, then the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date (or, if less, the price at which the shares are sold) over their purchase price will be taxable as ordinary income to the participant. If there is a disqualifying disposition in the same year of exercise, it eliminates the item of adjustment for alternative minimum tax purposes. Any additional gain or loss recognized upon the disposition will be recognized as a capital gain or loss by the participant.

We will not be entitled to any tax deduction if the participant makes a qualifying disposition of incentive stock option shares. If the participant makes a disqualifying disposition of the shares, we should be entitled to a tax deduction for compensation expense in the amount of the ordinary income recognized by the participant.

Upon exercising or settling a stock appreciation right, an Amended Plan participant will recognize taxable income at ordinary income tax rates, and we should be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction for compensation expense, in the amount paid or value of the shares issued upon exercise or settlement. Payments in shares will be valued at the fair market value of the shares at the time of the payment, and upon the subsequent disposition of the shares the participant will recognize a short term or long term capital gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the sales price of the shares and the participant’s tax basis in the shares.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. An Amended Plan participant generally will not recognize taxable income and we generally will not be entitled to a tax deduction upon the grant of restricted stock or restricted stock units. Upon the termination of restrictions on restricted stock or the payment of restricted stock units, the participant will recognize taxable income at ordinary income tax rates, and we should be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction for compensation expense, in the amount paid to the participant or the amount by which the then fair market value of the shares received by the participant exceeds the amount, if any, paid for them. Upon the subsequent disposition of any shares, the participant will recognize a short term or long term capital gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the sales price of the shares and the participant’s tax basis in the shares. However, an Amended Plan participant granted restricted stock that is subject to forfeiture or repurchase through a vesting schedule such that it is subject to a “risk of forfeiture” (as defined in Section 83 of the Code) may make an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to recognize taxable income at ordinary income tax rates, at the time of the grant, in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of common stock on the date of grant, less the amount paid, if any, for such shares. We will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction for compensation, in the amount recognized as taxable income by the participant. If a timely Section 83(b) election is made, the participant will not recognize any additional ordinary income on the termination of restrictions on restricted stock, and we will not be entitled to any additional tax deduction.

Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payment Awards and Performance Awards. An Amended Plan participant will not recognize taxable income and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction upon the grant of dividend equivalents, stock payment awards or performance awards until cash or shares are paid or distributed to the participant. At that time, any cash payments or the fair market value of shares that the participant receives will be taxable to the participant at ordinary income tax rates and we should be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction for compensation expense. Payments in shares will be valued at the fair market value of the shares at the time of the payment, and upon the subsequent disposition of the shares, the participant will recognize a short term or long term capital gain or loss in the amount of the difference between the sales price of the shares and the participant’s tax basis in the shares.

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Certain types of awards under the Amended Plan may constitute, or provide for, a deferral of compensation under Section 409A. Unless certain requirements set forth in Section 409A are complied with, holders of such awards may be taxed earlier than would otherwise be the case (e.g., at the time of vesting instead of the time of payment) and may be subject to an additional 20% federal income tax (and, potentially, certain

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interest penalties). To the extent applicable, the Amended Plan and awards granted under the Amended Plan will be structured and interpreted to comply with Section 409A and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance that may be issued pursuant to Section 409A.

Tax Consequences to the Company. To the extent that a participant recognizes ordinary income in the circumstances described above, the company or the subsidiary for which the participant performs services should be entitled to a corresponding deduction provided that, among other things, the amount (1) meet

SEC Form PRE 14A filed by Coherus Oncology Inc.