Vaxcyte COO Wassil Sells Shares Under Pre-Arranged Trading Plan

SAN CARLOS — Jim Wassil, Chief Operating Officer of Vaxcyte Inc., sold 6,182 shares of the company's common stock on Tuesday as part of a pre-arranged trading plan designed to cover tax withholding obligations and execute open-market sales.

The transaction was executed under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a regulation that allows corporate insiders to establish a predetermined schedule for buying or selling company stock. This mechanism is intended to shield executives from accusations of trading on material non-public information by removing their discretion at the time of the trade.

Wassil's sale involved the exercise of stock options followed by the immediate liquidation of shares. The proceeds from the transaction were utilized primarily to satisfy tax withholding requirements associated with the option exercise, a standard practice for executives receiving equity compensation. The remaining portion of the sale was conducted as an open-market transaction in accordance with the parameters set forth in the trading plan.

The trade occurred on September 8, 2026, at approximately 9:57 a.m. Eastern Time. Vaxcyte, headquartered in San Carlos, California, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies. The sale of shares by senior executives is a routine occurrence in the biotechnology sector, often tied to vesting schedules or tax events rather than shifts in corporate strategy.

Under the terms of Rule 10b5-1, Wassil established the trading plan at a time when he was not in possession of material non-public information regarding the company's future performance. Once the plan is adopted, the timing and price of the trades are determined by the pre-set instructions, regardless of subsequent market conditions or internal company developments.

The transaction has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of Vaxcyte's regular disclosure requirements for insider trading activity. The filing details the number of shares sold, the nature of the transaction, and the specific purpose of covering tax liabilities. No other executive transactions were reported by the company on the same date.

Vaxcyte has not issued a separate statement regarding the sale, as such transactions are considered standard administrative actions under existing regulatory frameworks. The company continues to advance its vaccine pipeline, with several candidates currently in various stages of clinical development.

Investors and analysts will continue to monitor insider trading activity at Vaxcyte as the company navigates its growth phase. While this specific transaction was pre-planned, future sales by Wassil or other executives may depend on the evolution of the 10b5-1 plan parameters or changes in tax laws affecting equity compensation. The impact of such routine sales on the broader market perception of the stock remains a subject of ongoing observation as trading volumes fluctuate.