v3.26.1
Share-Based Compensation
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Share-Based Compensation Share-Based Compensation
2025 Employee Share Purchase Plan
In May 2025, the Company’s board of directors adopted the 2025 Employee Share Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan” or “ESPP”), which became effective upon approval by the Company’s shareholders in June 2025. The following description of the Purchase Plan is a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Purchase Plan. Subject to adjustment for certain changes in the Company’s capitalization, the maximum number of Shares (as defined therein) that may be issued under the Purchase Plan is 3,000,000. The Purchase Plan includes both (i) a 423 Component (as defined therein), which is intended to be used to grant rights to purchase Shares which qualify as options issued under an “employee stock purchase plan” as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (ii) a Non-423 Component (as defined therein), which is intended to be used to grant rights to purchase Shares which do not qualify for such treatment under the Code. The UK Sharesave Sub-Plan has been adopted as a sub-plan to the Purchase Plan. The Sharesave is a UK “all employee” share option plan, which is intended to satisfy the requirements of Schedule 3 of ITEPA for tax qualifying save-as-you-earn share options plans. The Purchase Plan, including any sub-plans, is administered by the Company’s board of directors, which may delegate such administration to a committee comprised of one or more members of the board. The plan administrator has the power, subject to the provisions of the Purchase Plan, to determine when and how rights to purchase the Company’s shares will be granted, the provisions of each offering of such rights (which need not be identical), and whether employees of any of Autolus parent or subsidiary companies will be eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan. The Company initiated its first purchase period in July 2026 and has not granted shares under the ESPP as of June 30, 2026.
2025 Inducement Plan
The Company’s 2025 Inducement Plan (the “2025 Inducement Plan”) became effective on March 27, 2025 and, in accordance with Nasdaq listing rules and the SEC requirements, provides for issuance of inducement equity awards to qualifying individuals in connection with their entering into employment with the Company or its affiliates. Awards granted under the 2025 Inducement Plan will not exceed 3,000,000 ADSs, representing an equal number of ordinary shares. Equity awards granted under the 2025 Inducement Plan generally vest in the same manner as other Company share option awards, with 25% of the share option awards vesting one year after the vesting commencement date and the remainder of the awards vesting in equal monthly installments over three additional years. Restricted share unit awards under the 2025 Inducement Plan generally vest in four equal annual installments.
The following table summarizes the total share-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2026202520262025
Research and development expenses, net
$1,107 $1,528 $2,048 $2,526 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
3,164 2,309 5,525 4,041 
Cost of sales
324 468 588 614 
Capitalized to prepaid expenses and other non-current assets
— (12)(1)(21)
Total share-based compensation expense$4,595 $4,293 $8,160 $7,160 
Share Options
The table below summarizes Company’s share option activity during the six months ended June 30, 2026:
Number of
Options
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price per share
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(Years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (1)
(in thousands)
Outstanding as of December 31, 2025
31,130,935 $4.11 7.75$1,977 
Granted7,717,785 1.54 561 
Exercised(6,754)0.41 
Forfeited(1,096,871)2.13 
Expired(345,233)5.00 — 
Outstanding as of June 30, 2026
37,399,862 $3.63 7.43$768 
Exercisable as of June 30, 2026
19,261,927 $5.23 6.00$73 
Vested and expected to vest as of June 30, 2026
37,399,862 $3.63 7.43$768 
(1) Aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying options and the fair value of ordinary shares for those options in the money as of June 30, 2026.
The weighted average grant-date fair value of share options granted was $1.09 per share option for the six months ended June 30, 2026. The weighted average grant-date fair value of share options granted was $1.38 per share option for the six months ended June 30, 2025.
The total intrinsic value of share options exercised was less than $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026. There were no share options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively.
As of June 30, 2026, the total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested share options was $12.9 million, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average vesting period of 3.09 years.
Restricted Stock Units
The table below summarizes Company’s restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards activity during the three months ended June 30, 2026:
Number of
restricted
units
Weighted average
grant date
fair value
Unvested and outstanding at December 31, 2025
92,500 $1.87 
Granted4,393,554 1.59 
Vested(12,500)4.23 
Forfeited(222,250)1.62 
Unvested and outstanding at June 30, 2026
4,251,304 $1.58 
As of June 30, 2026, there was $5.8 million of unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.69 years.