Aclarion, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACON, ACONW), a commercial-stage healthcare technology company specializing in biomarker and AI-driven diagnostics for chronic low back pain, announced on May 6, 2026, an inducement stock option grant to its newly hired Commercial Director for the Western U.S., Daniel Keefe. The grant, approved by the compensation committee of Aclarion’s board of directors on May 5, 2026, includes an option to purchase 17,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.20 per share, equal to the closing price on the grant date. The award is intended as an inducement material to Mr. Keefe’s employment and is compliant with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
The option vests over a four-year period, with one-fourth vesting on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date and the remainder vesting in equal monthly installments over the subsequent three years, contingent on continued service. The option carries a 10-year term and is governed by a standard inducement stock option agreement. This move reflects Aclarion’s strategic expansion of its commercial team to address increasing demand for its Nociscan platform, which has seen triple-digit growth in utilization.
Nociscan is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform that uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data from MRI machines to noninvasively identify painful discs in the lumbar spine. By applying proprietary signal processing and augmented intelligence algorithms, Nociscan extracts and quantifies chemical biomarkers associated with disc pain, providing physicians with critical insights to optimize treatment strategies for chronic low back pain. The platform is the first evidence-supported tool of its kind to help distinguish between painful and nonpainful discs.
The expansion of the commercial team, particularly in the Western U.S., underscores Aclarion’s commitment to scaling its sales efforts as adoption of Nociscan accelerates. The company believes that the growing utilization rates validate the clinical utility and market need for its technology, which aims to improve treatment success rates for a condition that affects millions of patients. For more information about Aclarion and Nociscan, visit the company’s website at www.aclarion.com.
Forward-looking statements in this press release, including those regarding increasing demand for Nociscan, are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. These are discussed in detail in Aclarion’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. The company undertakes no obligation to update these statements. Latest news and updates about Aclarion are available at https://tinyurl.com/aconnewsroom.
