Achieve Life Sciences Announced Granting of New Hire Inducement Awards

Core Viewpoint - Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. is advancing its efforts in the development and commercialization of cytisinicline as a treatment for nicotine dependence, with recent inducement grants of stock options to new employees signaling growth and investment in talent [1][2][3]. Company Overview - Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. is a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on cytisinicline for nicotine dependence treatment, with a New Drug Application (NDA) accepted by the FDA for review, assigned a PDUFA date of June 20, 2026 [5]. - The NDA is based on two completed Phase 3 studies and an open-label safety study, indicating a strong clinical foundation for the product [5]. Market Context - Approximately 29 million adults in the U.S. smoke combustible cigarettes, with tobacco use being the leading cause of preventable death, responsible for over 8 million deaths globally and nearly 500,000 in the U.S. annually [6]. - There are around 17 million adults in the U.S. who use e-cigarettes, highlighting a significant market for cessation products, especially as there are currently no FDA-approved treatments specifically for e-cigarette cessation [7]. Product Details - Cytisinicline is a plant-based alkaloid that interacts with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain, aimed at reducing nicotine cravings and the satisfaction derived from nicotine products [8]. - The product is still investigational and has not yet received FDA approval for any indication in the U.S. [8].