On October 4, 2022 Harpoon Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HARP), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company developing novel T cell engagers, reported the appointment of Luke Walker, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Walker will lead the clinical development strategy and its execution for Harpoon Therapeutics and the product candidates derived from the company’s multiple technology platforms (Press release, Harpoon Therapeutics, OCT 4, 2022, View Source [SID1234621686]). Dr. Walker will report to Julie Eastland, Harpoon Therapeutics’ President and Chief Executive Officer, and his appointment was effective October 3, 2022.

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"I’m excited to join Harpoon Therapeutics and work alongside science-driven, collaborative colleagues, who are driven by the potential to impact patients’ lives by developing novel therapeutics," said Dr. Walker. "Harpoon has multiple ongoing clinical programs with product candidates which have demonstrated meaningful clinical activity to reach a broad set of patients with high unmet medical needs. I look forward to working with the Harpoon team to move these clinical-stage product candidates forward and to advance the company’s platforms in both hematologic and solid tumors."

Dr. Walker comes to Harpoon Therapeutics from Seagen Inc. where he most recently served as Vice President of Clinical Development and was responsible for overseeing the global development of multiple early-stage clinical programs. At Seagen, he previously served as Global Development Lead for TUKYSA (tucatinib) through its approval and market launch for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Walker came to Seagen through the acquisition of Cascadian Therapeutics, after having led the clinical development of the tucatinib program there from its early stages, working closely with other members of the current Harpoon leadership team and Board of Directors to successfully advance its development into pivotal studies. He received his Medical Degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and completed fellowship training in Hematology and Medical Oncology at Oregon Health Sciences University. After training, he practiced several years as a clinical medical oncologist prior to his career in clinical drug development.

"Harpoon warmly welcomes Dr. Walker to our senior leadership team," said Julie Eastland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harpoon Therapeutics. "His experience in leading clinical development, as well as interactions with key opinion leaders, investigators and investors provides a strong addition to the leadership group. Dr. Walker is a proven leader who has overseen the strategy for oncology therapeutics from early-stage programs through the successful completion of pivotal registrational trials and approvals, and we believe his addition will provide significant strength for our clinical programs, as we advance our lead T cell engager product candidates, HPN328 and HPN217, through the clinic."

Inducement Award under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

In connection with Dr. Walker’s appointment, Harpoon Therapeutics granted him an inducement non-qualified stock option to purchase an aggregate of 305,000 shares of Harpoon’s common stock.

The stock option grant has an exercise price per share equal to $1.08, Harpoon’s closing trading price on Nasdaq on the grant date, October 3, 2022, and will vest over four years, with 1/4 of the underlying shares vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and 1/36th of the underlying shares vesting monthly thereafter over 36 months, subject to Dr. Walker’s continued service relationship with Harpoon through the applicable vesting dates.

The independent directors of Harpoon’s Board of Directors approved the award as an inducement material to Dr. Walker’s employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).