Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

Filed by the Registrantý

Filed by a Party other than the Registranto

Check the appropriate box:

o

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

o

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

o

 

Definitive Additional Materials

o

 

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

ý

 

No fee required.

o

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
  (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
         
  (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
         
  (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
         
  (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
         
  (5) Total fee paid:
         

o

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

o

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

 

(1)

 

Amount Previously Paid:
        
 
  (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
         
  (3) Filing Party:
         
  (4) Date Filed:
         

Table of Contents

LOGOLOGO

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 8, 201721, 2018
AT 1:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME

Dear Stockholder:

        You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Corvus", we", "us" or "our"). The Annual Meeting will be held on June 8, 2017,21, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Time, at 863 Mitten Road, Suite 102, Burlingame, CA 94010, for the following purposes:

        These items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 17, 201725, 2018 (the "Record Date") are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

        We have elected to use the Internet as our primary means of providing our proxy materials to stockholders. Consequently, stockholders will not receive paper copies of our proxy materials, unless they specifically request them. We will send a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials on or about April 24, 201727, 2018 to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date. We are also providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet beginning on or about April 24, 2017.27, 2018. Electronic delivery of our proxy materials will significantly reduce our printing and mailing costs, and the environmental impact of the proxy materials.

        Your vote is very important. Whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting in person, it is important that your shares be represented. You may vote your proxy on the Internet, by phone or by mail in accordance with the instructions in the Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials. Please review the instructions on the proxy card or the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record regarding each of these voting options.

        Our board of directors recommends that you voteFOR the election of the director nominees named in Proposal 1 of the proxy statement andFOR the ratification of the selection, by the audit committee of our board of directors, of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm as described in Proposal 2 of the proxy statement,FOR the ratification of the Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as described in Proposal 3 of the proxy statement andFOR the ratification of the Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated Bylaws as described in Proposal 4 of the proxy statement.


Table of Contents

        On behalf of the board of directors, thank you for your participation in this important annual process.

By Order of the Board of Directors  

/s/ RICHARD A. MILLER

Richard A. Miller, M.D.


President and Chief Executive Officer
 

 

Burlingame, California

 

 

Table of Contents

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote on the Internet, by phone or by mail as instructed in the notice of availability of proxy materials, as promptly as possible in order to ensure your representation. Even if you have voted by proxy, you may still vote in person if you attend the Annual Meeting. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from the record holder.


Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 Page 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING PROCEDURES

  1 

PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

  76 

PROPOSAL 2 RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

  98 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees And Services

  98 

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

  109 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  11

PROPOSAL 3 RATIFICATION OF OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

12

PROPOSAL 4 RATIFICATION OF OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

1610 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

  1811 

Meetings of the Board of Directors, Board and Committee Member Attendance and Annual Meeting Attendance

  2013 

Corporate Governance Guidelines

  2013 

Director Independence

  2013 

Leadership Structure of the Board

  2114 

Role of Board in Risk Oversight Process

  2114 

Committees of the Board of Directors

  2114 

Board Diversity

  2417 

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

  2417 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

  2518 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

  2518 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

  2619 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

  2921 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

  3123 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

  3225 

Summary Compensation Table

  3225 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 20162017

  3326 

Base Salaries and Annual Bonuses

  3326 

Equity Awards

  3427 

Employment, Severance and Change in Control Arrangements

  3427 

Defined Contribution Plan

  3629 

Perquisites

  3629 

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

  3629 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

  3831 

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

  4135 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  4236 

Householding of Proxy Materials

  4236 

Other Matters

  4236 

Table of Contents

LOGOLOGO

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 8, 201721, 2018
AT 1:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME


QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THESE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING PROCEDURES

Why am I receiving these materials?

        We sent you a Notice of Availability of Proxy Materials ("Notice") because the board of directors of Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is soliciting your proxy to vote at our annual meeting of stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held on June 8, 201721, 2018 at 1:00 p.m., Pacific Time, at 863 Mitten Road, Suite 102, Burlingame, CA 94010. We invite you to attend the Annual Meeting to vote on the proposals described in this proxy statement. However, you do not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may vote by proxy over the Internet or by phone by following the instructions provided in the Notice or, if you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote by mail.

        The Notice is being sent or made available on or about April 24, 201727, 2018 to all stockholders of record entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

        As used in this proxy statement, "Corvus," the "Company," "we" or "us" refer to Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

        Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 17, 201725, 2018 (the "Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 20,934,51429,193,690 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

        If, on the Record Date, your shares were registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., then you are a stockholder of record. The Notice will be sent to you by mail directly by us. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote on the Internet or by phone as instructed in the Notice or by proxy by mail by requesting a paper copy of the proxy materials as instructed in the Notice to ensure your vote is counted.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank or Other Agent

        If, on the Record Date, your shares were held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank or other agent, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in "street name" and the Notice is being forwarded to you by such brokerage firm, bank or other agent. The brokerage firm, bank or other agent holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. Your brokerage firm, bank or other agent will not be able to vote in the election of directors unless they have your voting instructions, so it is very important that you indicate your voting instructions to the institution holding your shares.


Table of Contents

        You are also invited to attend the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank or other agent.

What am I voting on?

        There are fourtwo matters scheduled for a vote:

How are proxy materials distributed?

        Under rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), we are sending the Notice to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners as of the Record Date. Stockholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials, including this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016,2017, on the Internet at www.envisionreports.com/crvs or to request a printed or electronic set of the proxy materials at no charge. Instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet and how to request a printed copy may be found on the Notice and on the website referred to in the Notice, including an option to request paper copies on an ongoing basis.

How do I vote?

        You may either vote "For" or "Against""Withhold" or abstain from voting with respect to the nominee to the board of directors. For each of the other matters to be voted on, youYou may either vote "For" or "Against" or abstain from voting.voting with respect to the ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. The procedures for voting are:

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

        If you are a stockholder of record as of the Record Date, you may vote in person at the Annual Meeting, vote by proxy over the Internet or by phone by following the instructions provided in the Notice or, if you request printed copies of the proxy materials by mail, you may vote by mail. If your proxy is properly executed in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with the instructions you provide. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may still attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person if you have already voted by proxy.


Table of Contents


Table of Contents

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank or Other Agent

        If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, you should have received a voting card and voting instructions from that organization rather than from us. Simply follow the instructions to ensure that your vote is counted. To vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a valid proxy from your broker, bank or other agent. Follow the instructions from your broker, bank or other agent included with the proxy materials, or contact your broker, bank or other agent to request a proxy form.

        We provide Internet proxy voting to allow you to vote your shares online, with procedures designed to ensure the authenticity and correctness of your proxy vote instructions. However, please be aware that you must bear any costs associated with your Internet access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies.

How many votes do I have?

        On each matter to be voted upon, you have one vote for each share of common stock you owned as of the Record Date.

What is the quorum requirement?

        A quorum of stockholders is necessary to take any action at the meeting, other than to adjourn the meeting. The presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote will constitute a quorum. As of the Record Date, there were 20,934,51429,193,690 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

        Your shares will be counted toward the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted toward the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, the chairman of the Annual Meeting or a majority of the votes present at the Annual Meeting may adjourn the Annual Meeting to another date.

What if I return a proxy card but do not make specific choices?

        If you are a stockholder of record and you return a proxy card without marking any voting selections, your shares will be voted:


Table of Contents

        If any other matter is properly presented at the meeting, your proxy (one of the individuals named on your proxy card) will vote your shares using his best judgment.

        If you are a beneficial owner of shares registered in the name of your broker, bank or other agent, your shares are held by your broker, bank or other agent as your nominee, or in "street name," and you will need to obtain a proxy form from the organization that holds your shares and follow the instructions included on that form regarding how to instruct the organization to vote your shares. If you do not give instructions to your broker, bank or other agent, it can vote your shares with respect to "discretionary" items but not with respect to "non-discretionary" items. Discretionary items are proposals considered routine under the rules of various national securities exchanges, and, in the absence of your voting instructions, your broker, bank or other agent may vote your shares held in street name on such proposals. Non-discretionary items are proposals considered non-routine under the


Table of Contents

rules of various national securities exchanges, and, in the absence of your voting instructions, your broker, bank or other agent may not vote your shares held in street name on such proposals and the shares will be treated as broker non-votes. ProposalsProposal 1 3 and 4 are mattersis considered non-routine under the applicable rules. If you do not give your broker specific instructions, the broker may not vote your shares on Proposals 1, 3 and 4 andProposal 1and your shares will constitute broker non-votes which will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists but will not affect the outcome of these proposals. Proposal 2 involves a matter we believe to be routine and thus, if you do not give instructions to your broker, the broker may vote your shares in its discretion on Proposal 2, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with Proposal 2.

How are votes counted?

        Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting, who will count, with respect to ProposalsProposal 1, 2, 3"For" votes, "Withhold" votes and 4,broker non-votes and with respect to Proposal 2, "For" votes, "Against" votes and abstentions, and with respect to Proposal 1, 3 and 4, broker non-votes.abstentions.

How many votes are needed to approve each proposal?

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

        We will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to the Notice and the proxy materials, our directors and employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other


Table of Contents

means of communication. We will not pay our directors and employees any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding the Notice and any other proxy materials to beneficial owners.

What does it mean if I receive more than one Notice?

        If you receive more than one Notice, your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. Please vote by proxy according to each Notice to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

Can I change my vote after submitting my proxy?

        Yes, you can revoke your proxy at any time before the final vote at the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy in any one of three ways:

        If you are a beneficial owner, you may revoke your proxy by submitting new instructions to your broker, bank or other agent, or if you have received a proxy from your broker, bank or other agent


Table of Contents

giving you the right to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person.

When are stockholder proposals due for next year's Annual Meeting?

        Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), some stockholder proposals may be eligible for inclusion in our 2018 proxy statement. Any such proposal must be submitted in writing by December 25, 2017,28, 2018, to our Secretary, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 863 Mitten Road, Suite 102, Burlingame, CA 94010, the current address of our principal executive offices. If we change the date of our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year's Annual Meeting, the deadline shall be a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy materials. Stockholders interested in submitting such a proposal are advised to contact knowledgeable counsel with regard to the detailed requirements of the applicable securities laws and our Bylaws. The submission of a stockholder proposal does not guarantee that it will be included in our proxy statement.

        Our Bylaws provide that if you wish to submit a proposal that is not to be included in next year's proxy statement, a timely written notice of a stockholder proposal must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, our Secretary, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 863 Mitten Road, Suite 102, Burlingame, CA 94010, no earlier than February 8, 201821, 2019 and no later than the close of business on March 12, 2018,23, 2019, which notice must contain the information specified in our Bylaws. If we change the date of our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders by more than thirty (30) days before, or more than 60 days after, the one-year anniversary of the Annual Meeting, then the written notice of a stockholder proposal that is not intended to be included in our proxy statement must be delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the 90th day prior to our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which certain public disclosure as described in our Bylaws of the meeting date is made.

        Our Bylaws provide that if you wish to submit a proposal that is not to be included in next year's proxy statement, a timely written notice of a stockholder proposal must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, our Secretary, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 863 Mitten Road, Suite 102, Burlingame,


Table of Contents

CA 94010, no earlier than February 8, 201821, 2019 and no later than the close of business on March 12, 2018,23, 2019, or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which certain public disclosure as described in our Bylaws of the meeting date is made, which notice must contain the information specified in our Bylaws.

What is "householding" and how does it affect me?

        We have adopted a procedure approved by the SEC called "householding." Under this procedure, stockholders who have the same address may receive only one copy of the Notice, unless one or more of these stockholders notifies us that they wish to receive individual copies of the Notice and, if requested, other proxy materials. This process potentially means extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for the Company.

        If you are a beneficial owner of our common stock, once you receive notice from your broker, bank or other agent that they will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive separate Notices or other proxy materials, please notify your broker, bank or other agent, direct your written request to our Secretary, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 863 Mitten Road, Suite 102, Burlingame, CA 94010 or at (650) 900-4520. Stockholders who currently receive multiple copies of the Notice or other proxy materials at their address and would like to request householding of their communications should contact their broker, bank or other agent.

How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

        Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be published in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within 4 business days following the Annual Meeting.


Table of Contents


PROPOSAL 1


ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        Our board of directors is divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III. Under our Charter, our board of directors is authorized to assign its members in office to each class. Each class has a term of three years. Our Charter provides that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or appointed, or the earlier of their death, resignation or removal.

        Our board of directors currently consists of seven directors, divided into three classes as follows:

        At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms will then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third subsequent annual meeting of stockholders.

        Shares represented by executed proxies will be voted, if authority to do so is not withheld, for the election of the two nominees named below. In the event that any nominee should be unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, such shares will be voted for the election of such substitute nominee as the Board may propose. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting.

        Dr. MillerMr. Krognes and Dr. MoldtMr. Morrison have been nominated for election at the Annual Meeting to serve as Class III directors. If either Dr. MillerMr. Krognes or Dr. MoldtMr. Morrison becomes unavailable for election as a result of an unexpected occurrence, shares that would otherwise be voted for them will be voted for the election of a substitute nominee proposed by the nominating and corporate governance committee and nominated by the board of directors. Dr. MillerMr. Krognes and Dr. MoldtMr. Morrison have agreed to serve if elected. Our management has no reason to believe that Dr. MillerMr. Krognes or Dr. MoldtMr. Morrison will be unable to serve. If elected at the Annual Meeting, Dr. MillerMr. Krognes and Dr. MoldtMr. Morrison will serve until the earliest of the 20202021 annual meeting of stockholders, a successor for either of them is elected and qualified or one or both of their death, resignation or removal.

        The following is a brief biography of Dr. MillerMr. Krognes and Dr. Moldt,Mr. Morrison, the nominees for director, and a discussion of their specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors to recommend that Dr. MillerMr. Krognes and Dr. MoldtMr. Morrison as nominees for director, as of the date of this proxy statement.

Name
 Position Age

Richard A. Miller, M.D. 

Steve E. Krognes. 
 President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the BoardDirector 6649

        Richard A. Miller, M.D.Steve E. Krognes    Dr. MillerMr. Krognes has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since February 2014 and chairmana member of our board of directors since January 2014.2016. Mr. Krognes has served as Chief Financial Officer of Denali Therapeutics Inc., a public biotechnology company, since October 2015. From April 20122009 to October 2014, Dr. Miller was ChairmanSeptember 2015, Mr. Krognes served as Senior Vice President and Chief ExecutiveFinancial Officer of Graphea,at Genentech, Inc., a privately-held chemicalbiotechnology company. From 2004 to 2009, he was Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Roche Holding AG, a biotechnology company. Mr. Krognes served as Director of Mergers & Acquisitions at Danske Bank A/S, a Danish


Table of Contents

bank, from 2002 to 2003. He was a Venture Capitalist with Pylonia Ventures, a Norwegian venture investments company, whichfrom 2000 to 2002. From 1996 to 2000, he founded. Dr. Miller servedwas a Management Consultant for McKinsey & Company, a consulting firm. Mr. Krognes currently serves as Chief Commercialization Officer, Associate Deana member of the boards of directors of RLS Global, a Swedish life sciences company, and Research Professor in Chemistry at The Universitythe California Academy of Texas at AustinSciences, a scientific and educational institution. He was a member of the board of directors and board executive committee of the California Life Sciences Association, an industry organization, from September 2010 to December 2011. Dr. Miller founded Principia Biopharma Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors from January 2009 to February 2011. He served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Pharmacyclics, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, from 1991, when he co-founded the company, to 2008. At Pharmacyclics, Dr. Miller led the initial discovery and development efforts for ibrutinib. Dr. Miller was a co-founder, Vice President and Director of IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biotechnology company that merged with Biogen, Inc. in June 2003, where he led research efforts on lymphoma leading to the development of rituximab. Dr. Miller has been Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine (Oncology) at Stanford University Medical Center since 1991. Dr. MillerSeptember 2015. Mr. Krognes received a B.A.B.S. in ChemistryEconomics from Franklin & Marshall Collegethe Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.D.M.B.A. from the State University of New York MedicalHarvard Business School. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. We believe Dr. Miller'sMr. Krognes' experience as an officerin finance and director of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companiesthe biotechnology industry provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Name
 Position Age

Peter Moldt, Ph.D. 

Scott W. Morrison. 
 Director 5860

        Peter Moldt, Ph.D.Scott W. Morrison    Dr. MoldtMr. Morrison has served as a member of our board of directors since JanuaryDecember 2015. Since May 2012, Dr. Moldt has been employed asFrom 1996 to December 2015, Mr. Morrison was a Partner with Novo Ventures (US)Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting firm, where he also served as U.S. Life Sciences Leader from 2002 to December 2015. He has served on the board of directors of Audentes Therapeutics, Inc., which provides certain consultancy services to Novo A/S, a Danish limited liability company that manages investments and financial assets. From 2009 to May 2012, Dr. Moldt was employed as a Partner with Novo A/S. Dr. Moldt founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Curalogic A/S, a publicly listed Danish pharmaceutical company, from 2004 through its liquidation in 2009. From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Moldt was Chief Operating Officer of 7TM Pharma A/S, a privatepublic biotechnology company, which he also co-founded. Forsince December 2015 and on the prior eleven years, Dr. Moldtboard of directors of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, since January 2016. Since January 2017, Mr. Morrison has served on the board of directors of Symic Bio, Inc., a privately held various positions with NeuroSearch A/S, a publicly listed Danish biotechnology company, including Director of Drug Development where he was responsible for all aspects of preclinical and clinical drug development. Dr. Moldt currently servescompany. Mr. Morrison has held roles on the boards of directors of several private biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies. He received an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Pharmacy and Medicinal Chemistry from the Royal Danish School of Pharmacy. He also holds a post doctorate at Yale University in the Department of Organic Chemistry. We believe Dr. Moldt is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensivenumerous life sciences industry experience, his experience servingorganizations. Since 1999, he has served on the board of directors of numerous biopharmaceuticalthe Biotechnology Institute, a nonprofit organization, where has also served on the audit committee since 2002. Mr. Morrison has previously served on the boards of directors of the Life Sciences Foundation, a biotechnology nonprofit organization, the Bay Area Biosciences Association, a 501(c)(3) organization, and biotechnology companiesthe Emerging Companies Section of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, a trade organization. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California-Berkeley and hisis a certified public accountant (inactive). We believe Mr. Morrison's experience in public accounting and the life sciences industry provides him with venture capital investments.the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR THE ELECTION OF EACH NAMED
CLASS III DIRECTOR NOMINEE NAMED ABOVE.


Table of Contents


PROPOSAL 2


RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The audit committee of our board of directors has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 20172018 and has further directed that management submit the selection of our independent registered public accounting firm for ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

        Neither our Bylaws nor other governing documents or law require stockholder ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. However, the audit committee is submitting the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If the stockholders fail to ratify the selection, the audit committee will reconsider whether or not to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Even if the selection is ratified, the audit committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if the committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees And Services

        The following table represents aggregate fees billed or to be billed to us for fiscal years ended December 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, respectively, by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm.


 Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
  Fiscal Year Ended
December 31,
 

 2016 2015  2017 2016 

Audit Fees(1)

 $642,448 $861,159  $675,140 $642,448 

Audit-Related Fees(2)

      

Tax Fees(3)

      

All Other Fees(4)

 900   900 900 

Total

 $643,348 $861,159  $676,040 $643,348 

(1)
Audit FeesFees..    This category consists of fees for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements, review of our quarterly financial statements, assistance with registration statements filed with the SEC and services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements. Fees in 2016 and 2015 also include fees associated with our IPO, which included review of our quarterly financial statements included in our registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC and delivery of comfort letters, consents and review of documents filed with the SEC. Fees in 2017 also include fees associated with our shelf registration statement, which we filed with the SEC in April 2017, and our at-the-market offering program, which we launched in September 2017.

(2)
Audit-Related FeesFees..    This category consists of fees for professional services rendered that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements.


Table of Contents

(3)
Tax Fees.    This category consists of fees for services provided for tax consultation services.


Table of Contents

(4)
All Other Fees.    This category consists of fees for all other services that are not reported above.

        All fees described above were approved by our board of directors of the audit committee of the board of directors.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

        The audit committee has adopted policies and procedures for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The policy generally requires pre-approval for specified services in the defined categories of audit services, audit-related services and tax services. The pre-approval of services may be delegated to one or more of the audit committee's members, but the decision must be reported to the full audit committee at its next scheduled meeting.

        The audit committee reviews both audit and non-audit services performed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and the fees charged for such services. Among other things, the audit committee reviews non-audit services proposed to be provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and pre-approve such services only if they are compatible with maintaining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's status as an independent registered public accounting firm. All services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in 20162017 and 20152016 were pre-approved by our board of directors or the audit committee after review of each of the services proposed for approval.

        The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and cast on this proposal will be required to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.2018. Abstentions will not be counted as votes cast on this proposal. No broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with this proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR PROPOSAL 2.


Table of Contents


REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

        The material in this report is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" with SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall the material in this section be deemed to be "soliciting material' or incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other document filed with the SEC under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise expressly stated in such filing.

        The audit committee of the board of directors (hashas furnished this report concerning the independent audit of the Company's financial statements. Each member of the audit committee meets the enhanced independence standards established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rulemaking of the SEC and NASDAQNasdaq regulations. A copy of the audit committee Charter is available on our website atwww.corvuspharma.com.

        The audit committee's responsibilities include assisting the board of directors regarding the oversight of the integrity of the Company's financial statements, the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications and independence, and the performance of the independent registered public accounting firm.

        In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the audit committee reviewed and discussed the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20162017 with the Company's management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. In addition, the audit committee has discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with and without management present, their evaluation of the Company's internal accounting controls and overall quality of the Company's financial reporting. The audit committee also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (formerly SAS 61), as amended (AICPA,Professional Standards, Vol. 1 AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T. The audit committee also received the written disclosures and the letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526 and the audit committee discussed the independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with that firm.

        Based on the audit committee's review and discussions noted above, the audit committee recommended to the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors approved, that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2017.

        The audit committee and the board of directors have recommended the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2017.2018.

Audit Committee
Scott W. Morrison (Chairperson)
Peter Moldt, Ph.D.
Steve E. Krognes


Table of Contents


PROPOSAL 3

RATIFICATION OF OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

        On December 21, 2015, our board of directors unanimously approved our Charter, on January 15, 2016, our stockholders approved our Charter, and immediately prior to the closing of our initial public offering ("IPO") on March 29, 2016, our Charter became effective. Our governing documents and applicable laws do not require stockholder ratification of our Charter; however, we are submitting our Charter to our stockholders for ratification now that we are a publicly traded company.

Description of Material Changes to our Pre-IPO Charter

        The following description summarizes material changes to our certificate of incorporation in effect prior to our IPO (our "Pre-IPO Charter"), which changes became effective pursuant to our Charter immediately prior to the closing of our IPO, and certain other material terms of our Charter. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of our Charter, you should refer to the full text of our Charter, which is attached asAnnex A to this proxy statement.

Common Stock

        Our Charter establishes the authorized number of shares of common stock at 290,000,000 shares. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our common stock would be entitled to receive, pro rata, our remaining assets available for distribution. Under our Charter, holders of our common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights and our common stock is not subject to further calls or assessment by us. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to those of the holders of any shares of our preferred stock we may authorize and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

        Our Charter authorizes our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred stock, including convertible preferred stock, without further action by our stockholders, and establishes the authorized number of shares of preferred stock at 10,000,000 shares. Under our Charter, our board of directors is able to determine, with respect to any series of preferred stock, the powers including preferences and relative participations, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of that series, including, without limitation:


Table of Contents

        We are able to issue a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of the series, impede or discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the holders of our common stock might believe to be in their best interests or in which the holders of our common stock might receive a premium for their common stock over the market price of the common stock. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of holders of our common stock by restricting dividends on the common stock, diluting the voting power of the common stock or subordinating the liquidation rights of the common stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock may have an adverse impact on the market price of our common stock.

        Our Pre-IPO Charter provided for certain specified rights applicable to shares of preferred stock that were authorized and outstanding prior to our IPO, which shares of preferred stock were converted into shares of common stock immediately prior to the consummation of our IPO and are no longer authorized or outstanding. Our pre-IPO Charter did not authorize our board of directors to establish one or more additional series of preferred stock.

Anti-takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of our Charter

        Our Charter contains provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms. However, it is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish, or could deter, transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interest, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.

        Undesignated Preferred Stock.    The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock pursuant to our Charter, as described above under the caption "—Preferred Stock" above, makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences.

        Special Stockholder Meetings.    Our Charter provides that a special meeting of stockholders may be called at any time by our board of directors, but such special meetings may not be called by our stockholders or any other person or persons.

        Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent.    Our Charter eliminates the right of stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.


Table of Contents

        Classified Board; Election and Removal of Directors.    Our Charter establishes a classified board, as a result of which the successors to the directors whose terms have expired will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting of stockholders following their election. For more information on the classified board, see "Proposal 1: Election of Directors" above. Our Charter provides for the removal of any of our directors only for cause and requires a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 662/3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock.

        Filling Board Vacancies.    Our Charter provides that vacancies on our board of directors, including newly created directorships, may be filled by a majority vote of directors then in office unless our Board determines that such vacancies shall be filled by the stockholders, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office for which they hold expires or until such director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

        This system of electing and removing directors and filling vacancies may tend to discourage a third-party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.

        Amendment of Charter Provisions.    The amendment of our Charter requires the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662/3% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of voting stock would be required to amend certain provisions of our Charter. Our Pre-IPO Charter provided certain limitations on amendments to our Charter that are different than the limitations contained in our existing Charter.

Choice of Forum

        Our Charter provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), our Bylaws or our Charter; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This exclusive forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with officers, directors or employees, and may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Our Board believes this provision is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders because it assists us in avoiding multiple lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions regarding the same matter. Requiring such claims to be brought in a single forum also helps ensure consistent consideration of issues by courts with expertise in the applicable laws, and promotes cost saving in the resolution of such claims.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

        Our Charter includes a provision that, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, eliminates the personal liability of directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of us and our stockholders, through stockholders' derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation will not apply to any director if the director has acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director. Further, our Charter provides that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. Our Pre-IPO Charter did not include a provision requiring indemnification of, and advancement of expenses to, our officers.

        The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our Charter may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against


Table of Contents

directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, investments in our securities may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

        The Board believes these provisions are in the best interests of us and our stockholders because they allow us to continue to attract and retain qualified service providers, including officers and directors.

Vote Required

        The Board continues to believe that our existing Charter is in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders and recommends that our stockholders ratify our Charter. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast either in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify our Charter. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no direct effect on the outcome of this proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR RATIFICATION OF OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.


Table of Contents


PROPOSAL 4

RATIFICATION OF OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

        On December 21, 2015, our board of directors unanimously approved our Bylaws, on January 15, 2016, our stockholders approved our Bylaws and, immediately prior to the closing of our IPO on March 29, 2016, our Bylaws became effective. Our governing documents and applicable laws do not require stockholder ratification of our Bylaws; however, we are submitting our Bylaws to our stockholders for ratification now that we are a publicly-traded company.

Description of Material Changes to our Pre-IPO Bylaws

        The following description summarizes material changes to our bylaws in effect prior to our IPO (our "Pre-IPO Bylaws"), which changes became effective pursuant to our Bylaws immediately prior to the closing of our IPO. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of our Bylaws, you should refer to the full text of our Bylaws, which is attached asAnnex B to this proxy statement.

Anti-takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Bylaws

        Our Bylaws contain certain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms. However, it is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish, or could deter, transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in the best interests of the Company, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.

        Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals.    Our Bylaws require that advance notice be delivered to the Company of any nominations of persons for election to our Board and any proposals of other business to be considered by stockholders at an annual or special meeting of stockholders (other than those submitted in reliance on Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), and provide for notice procedures to be followed by stockholders in making such nominations or proposals of business. Such notice procedures include, among others, requirements that the stockholders provide timely and proper written notice to the Secretary of the Company. Our Pre-IPO Bylaws did not include these advance notice provisions.

        Filling Board Vacancies.    The Bylaws provide that vacancies on our board of directors, including newly created directorships, may be filled by a majority vote of directors then in office, and directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office for which they hold expires or until such director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or the earlier of their death, resignation or removal. Accordingly, our board of directors could prevent a stockholder from filling the new directorships with such stockholder's own nominee. Our Pre-IPO Bylaws provided that vacancies on our board of directors could be filled by either a majority vote of Board or with a vote of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.


Table of Contents

Choice of Forum

        Our Bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the DGCL, our Bylaws or our Charter; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Our prior adoption of this exclusive forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with officers, directors or employees, and may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. The Board believes this provision is in the best interests of us and our stockholders because it assists us in avoiding multiple lawsuits in multiple jurisdictions regarding the same matter. Requiring such claims to be brought in a single forum also helps ensure consistent consideration of issues by courts with expertise in the applicable laws, and promotes costs-savings in the resolution of such claims.

Indemnification of Officers and Directors

        Our Bylaws provide that we must indemnify, and advance expenses, to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our Bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and our stockholders. In addition, investments in our securities may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

Vote Required

        The Board continues to believe that our existing Bylaws are in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders and recommends that our stockholders ratify our Bylaws.

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast either in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting is required to ratify our Bylaws. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no direct effect on the outcome of this proposal.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTEFOR RATIFICATION OF OUR AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS.


Table of Contents


BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

        The following table sets forth, for the Class II directors who are standing for election and for our other current directors who will continue in office after the Annual Meeting, information with respect to their position/office held with the Company and their ages as of March 31, 2017:2018:

Name
 Age Position/Office Held With the Company Director Since  Age Position/Office Held With the Company Director
Since
 

Class I Directors whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting and who are standing for election

     
Class I Directors whose terms expire at the 2020 Annual Meeting of StockholdersClass I Directors whose terms expire at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders    

Richard A. Miller, M.D.

 66 President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board 2014   67 President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board 2014 

Peter Moldt, Ph.D.(1)(3)

 58 Director 2015   59 Director 2015 

Class II Directors whose terms expire at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 
 
 

 

 
 
 

Class II Directors whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting

Class II Directors whose terms expire at the Annual Meeting

 

 

 

 

Steve E. Krognes(1)(2)

 48 Director 2016   49 Director 2016 

Scott W. Morrison(1)(2)

 59 Director 2015   60 Director 2015 

Class III Directors whose terms expire at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
Class III Directors whose terms expire at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

 

 

 

 

Ian T. Clark(2)(3)

 56 Director 2017   57 Director 2017 

Elisha P. (Terry) Gould III(3)

 60 Director 2014   61 Director 2014 

Peter Thompson, M.D.(2)

 57 Director 2014   58��Director 2014 

(1)
Member of the Audit Committee.

(2)
Member of the Compensation Committee.

(3)
Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

        Set forth below is biographical information for each person whose term of office as a director will continue after the Annual Meeting. The biographical information of our nominees, Richard A. Miller, M.D.Steve E. Krognes and Peter Moldt,Scott W. Morrison, is included in Proposal 1 above. The following includes certain information regarding our directors' individual experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the board of directors to conclude that they should serve as directors.

Class III Directors Continuing in Office until the 20182020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

        Steve E. Krognes.Richard A. Miller, M.D.    Mr. Krognes has served as a memberour President and Chief Executive Officer since February 2014 and chairman of our board of directors since January 2016. Mr. Krognes has2014. From April 2012 to October 2014, Dr. Miller was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Graphea, Inc., a privately-held chemical company, which he founded. Dr. Miller served as Chief FinancialCommercialization Officer, Associate Dean and Research Professor in Chemistry at The University of Denali TherapeuticsTexas at Austin from September 2010 to December 2011. Dr. Miller founded Principia Biopharma Inc., a biotechnologyprivately-held biopharmaceutical company, since October 2015. Fromand served as its President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors from January 2009 to September 2015, Mr. KrognesFebruary 2011. He served as SeniorPresident, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Pharmacyclics, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, from 1991, when he co-founded the company, to 2008. At Pharmacyclics, Dr. Miller led the initial discovery and development efforts for ibrutinib. Dr. Miller was a co-founder, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Genentech, Inc.,Director of IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biotechnology company. From 2004company that merged with Biogen, Inc. in June 2003, where he led research efforts on lymphoma leading to 2009, he was Headthe development of Mergers & Acquisitionsrituximab. Dr. Miller has been Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine (Oncology) at Roche Holding AG, a biotechnology company. Mr. Krognes served as Director of Mergers & Acquisitions at Danske Bank A/S, a Danish bank, from 2002 to 2003. He was a Venture Capitalist with Pylonia Ventures, a Norwegian venture investments company, from 2000 to 2002. From 1996 to 2000, he was a Management Consultant for McKinsey & Company, a consulting firm. Mr. Krognes has served as a member ofStanford University Medical Center since 1991. Dr. Miller currently serves on the board of directors of the California Academy of Sciences, a private scientific and educational institution, since June 2014. He was a member of the board of directors and board executive committee of the California Life Sciences Association, a private industry organization, from September 2010 to September 2015. Mr. Krognesbiopharmaceutical company. Dr. Miller received a B.S.B.A. in EconomicsChemistry from Franklin & Marshall College and an M.D. from the Wharton School of theState University of PennsylvaniaNew York Medical School. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and an


Table of Contents

M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.Medical Oncology. We believe Mr. Krognes'sDr. Miller's experience in financeas an officer and the biotechnology industrydirector of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.


Table of Contents

        Scott W. Morrison.Peter Moldt, Ph.D.    Mr. MorrisonDr. Moldt has served as a member of our board of directors since DecemberJanuary 2015. From 1996 to December 2015, Mr. Morrison wasSince May 2012, Dr. Moldt has been employed as a Partner with Ernst & Young LLP,Novo Ventures (US) Inc., which provides certain consultancy services to Novo Holdings A/S, a public accounting firm,Danish limited liability company that manages investments and financial assets. From 2009 to May 2012, Dr. Moldt was employed as a Partner with Novo Holdings A/S. Dr. Moldt founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Curalogic A/S, a publicly listed Danish pharmaceutical company, from 2004 through its liquidation in 2009. From 2000 to 2004, Dr. Moldt was Chief Operating Officer of 7TM Pharma A/S, a private biotechnology company, which he also co-founded. For the prior eleven years, Dr. Moldt held various positions with NeuroSearch A/S, a publicly listed Danish biotechnology company, including Director of Drug Development where he also served as U.S. Life Sciences Leader from 2002 to December 2015. He has served on the boardwas responsible for all aspects of directorspreclinical and as chair of the audit committee of Audentes Therapeutics, Inc., a public biotechnology company, since December 2015 and on the board of directors and as chair of the audit committee of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, since January 2016. Since January 2017, Mr. Morrison has served on the board of directors, as chair of the audit committee and as a member of the compensation committee of Symic Bio, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company. Mr. Morrison has also held rolesclinical drug development. Dr. Moldt currently serves on the boards of directors of numerous life sciences industry organizations.several private biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies. He received an M.Sc. and a B.S.Ph.D. in Business AdministrationPharmacy and Medicinal Chemistry from the Royal Danish School of Pharmacy. He also holds a post doctorate at Yale University in the Department of California, Berkeley and is a certified public accountant (inactive).Organic Chemistry. We believe Mr. Morrison's experience in public accounting and the life sciences industry provides him with the qualifications and skillsDr. Moldt is qualified to serve as a member ofon our board of directors.directors because of his extensive industry experience, his experience serving on the board of directors of numerous biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and his experience with venture capital investments.

Class III Directors Continuing in Office until the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

        Ian T. Clark.    Mr. Clark has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2017. Mr. Clark was appointed to the position of Operating Partner with Clarus, a life sciences investment firm, in September 2017. Mr. Clark joined Genentech, Inc. in 2003 as senior vice president and general manager, BioOncology. He subsequently held a number of senior management positions and was appointed to CEO in January 2010 where he served until his recent retirement in December 2016. During his tenure, he led the Genentech Executive Committee and was a member of the Genentech Board of Directors. Prior to joining Genentech, Mr. Clark served as general manager of Novartis Canada and, before that, as chief operating officer for Novartis United Kingdom. Earlier in his career, Mr. Clark served as vice president of sales and marketing for Sanofi (Aventis) and for Ivax in the United Kingdom, France and Eastern Europe. Mr. Clark also serves on the boards of TerraVia Holdings, Inc., a public plant-based food, nutrition and specialty ingredients company, Kite Pharma, Inc., a public clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, Shire plc, a public biotech company, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and the Gladstone Foundation, an independent, nonprofit life science research organization. He also serves as an advisor to the Institute of Life Sciences at Southampton University in the United Kingdom, as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Economic Advisory Council, and as a member of the Technology Network Executive Council. Mr. Clark received a Bachelor of Science and an honorary doctorate in biological sciences from Southampton University. We believe Mr. Clark's executive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

        Elisha P. (Terry) Gould III.    Mr. Gould has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2014. Mr. Gould is currently a Partner and Head of Venture/Growth Equity Investments at Adams Street Partners, LLC, a global private equity firm, and has been employed by Adams Street Partners or its predecessor organizations since 1994. Since 2006, Mr. Gould has served on the board of directors of OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public biotechnology company. He also currently serves on the boards of directors of several private biopharmaceutical and/or healthcare companies. Mr. Gould received an A.B. in Engineering Science from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. We believe Mr. Gould's experience in the venture capital industry and as a director of a pharmaceutical companyseveral biopharmaceutical and/or healthcare companies provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.


Table of Contents

        Peter Thompson, M.D.    Dr. Thompson has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2014. Dr. Thompson currently serves as a Private Equity Partner for OrbiMed Advisors LLC, an investment firm focused on the healthcare sector, where he previously served as


Table of Contents

Venture Partner since joining in September 2010. Dr. Thompson has served as a director of Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc, a biopharmaceutical company, since September 2014. Dr.2014 and Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, since July 2017. Thompson currently serves on the boards of directors of several private companies. He is a board-certified internist and oncologist and has served as Affiliate Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Washington since January 2010. Dr. Thompson co-founded and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2002 to 2009. He was a medical staff fellow at the National Cancer Institute from 1985 to 1992. Dr. Thompson holds a Sc. B. in Molecular Biology and Mathematics from Brown University and an M.D. from Brown University Medical School. We believe Dr. Thompson's venture capital and management experience in the pharmaceutical industry provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Meetings of the Board of Directors, Board and Committee Member Attendance and Annual Meeting Attendance

        The board of directors met sevenfour times and did not actacted once by unanimous written consent during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.2017. The audit committee met five times, the compensation committee met two times and the nominating and corporate governance committee met one time and acted by unanimous written consent one time. Each member of the board of directors, excluding Mr. Clark, who was elected as a member of the board of directors in January 2017, andexcept Mr. Krognes who attended 50% of the compensation committee meetings held in 2016,2017, attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of our board of directors, and of the committees on which he served, held during the last fiscal year. We encourage all of our directors and nominees for director to attend our annual meeting of stockholders; however, attendance is not mandatory. All of our directors attended our 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

        The board of directors has documented our governance practices in our corporate governance guidelines to assure that the board will have the necessary authority and practices in place to review and evaluate our business operations as needed and to make decisions that are independent of our management. The guidelines are also intended to align the interests of directors and management with those of our stockholders. The corporate governance guidelines set forth certain practices the board will follow with respect to board composition, board committees, board nomination, director qualifications and evaluation of the board and committees. The corporate governance guidelines and the charter for each committee of the board of directors may be viewed atwww.corvuspharma.com.

Director Independence

        Our board of directors currently consists of seven (7) members. Our board of directors has determined that all of our directors, other than Dr. Miller, qualify as independent directors in accordance with the NASDAQNasdaq Global Market ("NASDAQ"Nasdaq") listing requirements. Dr. Miller is not considered independent because he is an employee of the Company. NASDAQ'sNasdaq's independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three (3) years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his or her family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as required by NASDAQNasdaq rules, our board of directors has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist that, in the opinion of our board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our board of directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors


Table of Contents

and us with regard to each director's business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.


Table of Contents

        As required under NASDAQNasdaq rules and regulations, our independent directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present.

Leadership Structure of the Board

        Our Bylaws and corporate governance guidelines provide our board of directors with flexibility to combine or separate the positions of chairperson of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer and/or the implementation of a lead director in accordance with its determination that utilizing one or the other structure would be in our best interests. Dr. Miller currently serves as the chairperson of our board of directors. In that role, Dr. Miller presides over the meetings of our board of directors.

        Our board of directors has concluded that our current leadership structure is appropriate at this time. However, our board of directors will continue to periodically review our leadership structure and may make such changes in the future as it deems appropriate.

Role of Board in Risk Oversight Process

        Risk assessment and oversight are an integral part of our governance and management processes. Our board of directors encourages management to promote a culture that incorporates risk management into our corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. Management discusses strategic and operational risks with the board of directors at regular board meetings as part of management presentations that focus on particular business functions, operations or strategies, and presents the steps taken by management to mitigate or eliminate such risks.

        Our board of directors does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through our board of directors as a whole, as well as through various standing committees of our board of directors that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our board of directors is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure. Our audit committee is responsible for overseeing our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures. The audit committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and considers and approves or disapproves any related person transactions. Our nominating and governance committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines. Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking.

Committees of the Board of Directors

        Our board of directors has the following standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Our board of directors may


Table of Contents

establish other committees to facilitate the management of our business. The composition and functions of each committee are described below.

Name
 Audit Compensation Nominating and Corporate
Governance
 Audit Compensation Nominating and
Corporate
Governance
 

Richard A. Miller, M.D.

       

Peter Moldt, Ph.D.

 X  X X  X 

Scott W. Morrison

 X(1) X  X(1) X  

Steve E. Krognes

 X X  X X  

Peter Thompson, M.D.

  X(1)   X(1)  

Elisha P. (Terry) Gould III

   X(1)   X(1)

Ian T. Clark

  X X  X X 

Total meetings in 2016

 5 2 1

Total meetings in 2017

 5 2 1 

(1)
Committee Chairman

Table of Contents

        Below is a description of each committee of the board of directors.

Audit Committee

        Our audit committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process. Among other matters, the audit committee:

        The current members of our audit committee are Mr. Krognes, Dr. Moldt and Mr. Morrison. Mr. Morrison serves as the chairperson of the committee. All members of our audit committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and NASDAQ.Nasdaq. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Morrison is anand Mr. Krognes are audit committee financial expertexperts as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and has the requisite financial sophistication as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQ.Nasdaq. Under the rules of the SEC, members of the audit committee must also meet heightened independence standards. Our board of directors has determined that each of the members of our audit committee is independent under the applicable rules of NASDAQ.Nasdaq. The audit committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable


Table of Contents

standards of the SEC and NASDAQNasdaq which is available on our corporate website atwww.corvuspharma.com.

Compensation Committee

        Our compensation committee reviews and recommends policies relating to compensation and benefits of our officers and employees. The compensation committee reviews and sets or makes recommendations to our board of directors regarding the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers. The compensation committee also reviews and makes recommendations to our board of directors regarding director compensation. In addition, the compensation committee reviews and approves or makes recommendations to our board of directors regarding our incentive compensation and equity-based plans. The compensation committee periodically reviews and evaluates the performance of the compensation committee and its members and must annually review and reassess the compensation committee charter and recommend any changes to our board of directors.


Table of Contents

        The current members of our compensation committee are Mr. Clark, Mr. Krognes, Mr. Morrison, and Dr. Thompson. Dr. Thompson serves as the chairperson of the committee. Each of the members of our compensation committee is independent under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQNasdaq and is an "outside director" as that term is defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (162(m)). Each of Mr. Clark, Mr. Krognes, and Mr. Morrison is also a "non-employee director" as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Mr.Dr. Thompson will not be a "non-employee director" if OrbiMed Private Investments V, LP continues to own more than ten percent (10%) of our capital stock. In such event and until such time as the compensation committee is comprised solely of "non-employee directors," equity compensation awards to directors and executive officers will be approved by our board of directors. The compensation committee operates under a written charter which is available on our corporate website atwww.corvuspharma.com.

        Our executive officers submit proposals to the board and the compensation committee regarding our executive and director compensation. Our Chief Executive Officer also annually reviews the performance of each executive officer and makes recommendations regarding their compensation. The compensation committee considers those recommendations in determining base salaries, adjustments to base salaries, annual cash bonus program targets and awards and equity awards, if any, for the executive officers and other members of senior management.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

        The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for making recommendations to our board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of our board of directors. In addition, the nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for overseeing our corporate governance policies and reporting and making recommendations to our board of directors concerning governance matters.

        The current members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Mr. Clark, Mr. Gould and Dr. Moldt. Mr. Gould serves as the chairman of the committee. Each of the members of our nominating and corporate governance committee is an independent director under the applicable rules and regulations of NASDAQNasdaq relating to nominating and corporate governance committee independence. The nominating and corporate governance committee operates under a written charter which is available on our corporate website atwww.corvuspharma.com.

        The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders. For a stockholder to make any recommendation or nomination for election to the board of directors at an annual meeting, the stockholder must provide notice to the Company, which notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the Company's principal executive offices not less than 90 days and not more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of


Table of Contents

the preceding year's annual meeting, or, if later, the 10th day following the date on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting is made. Further updates and supplements to such notice may be required at the times, and in the forms, required under our bylaws. As set forth in our bylaws, submissions must include the name and address of the proposed nominee, information regarding the proposed nominee that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act, information regarding the proposed nominee's indirect and direct interests in shares of the Company's common stock, and a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement of the proposed nominee. Our Bylaws also specify further requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder's notice. We recommend that any stockholder wishing to make a nomination for director review a copy of our Bylaws, as amended and restated to date, which is available, without charge, from our Secretary, Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 863 Mitten Road, Suite 102, Burlingame, CA 94010.


Table of Contents

Board Diversity

        Our nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for reviewing with the board of directors, on an annual basis, the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience required for the board of directors as a whole and its individual members. In evaluating the suitability of individual candidates (both new candidates and current members), the nominating and corporate governance committee, in recommending candidates for election, and the board of directors, in approving (and, in the case of vacancies, appointing) such candidates, may take into account many factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

        Our board of directors evaluates each individual in the context of the board of directors as a whole, with the objective of assembling a group that can best maximize the success of the business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using its diversity of experience in these various areas.

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

        The board of directors will consider any written or electronic communication from our stockholders to the board, a committee of the board or any individual director. Any stockholder who wishes to communicate to the board of directors, a committee of the board or any individual director should submit written or electronic communications to our Secretary at our principal executive offices, which shall include contact information for such stockholder. All communications from stockholders


Table of Contents

received shall be forwarded by our Secretary to the board of directors, a committee of the board or an individual director, as appropriate, on a periodic basis, but in any event no later than the board of director's next scheduled meeting. The board of directors, a committee of the board, or individual directors, as appropriate, will consider and review carefully any communications from stockholders forwarded by our Secretary.

Material Changes to Nominee Recommendation Procedures

        There have been no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board in 2016.2017.

Family Relationships

        There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.


Table of Contents

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

        We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. The code of business conduct and ethics is available on our corporate website atwww.corvuspharma.com. Any amendments to the code, or any waivers of its requirements, will be disclosed on our website.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        None of the members of our compensation committee has at any time been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of our board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers on our board of directors or compensation committee.


Table of Contents


CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

        Our board of directors has adopted a written related party transaction policy to set forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy will cover, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K, any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which we were or are to be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a related party had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including, without limitation, purchases of goods or services by or from the related party or entities in which the related party has a material interest, indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness and employment by us of a related party. As provided by our related party transaction policy, our audit committee will be responsible for reviewing and approving in advance the related party transactions covered by our related party transaction policies and procedures.

Certain Related Party Transactions

        We describe below transactions and series of similar transactions since January 1, 2016,2017, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which (i) the amounts involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and (ii) any of our directors, executive officers, holders of more than five percent of our capital stock or any member of their immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect material interest

Director and Executive Officer Agreements and Compensation

        See the sections titled "Director Compensation" and "Executive Compensation" for more information regarding compensation of our directors and executive officers.

Employment Agreements

        We have entered into employment agreements with our executive officers. For more information regarding these agreements, see the section titled "Executive Compensation" below.

Indemnification Agreements and Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance

        We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to, among other things, indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys' fees, judgments, penalties, fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of us, arising out of the person's services as a director or executive officer. We have obtained an insurance policy that insures our directors and officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under applicable securities laws.

Participation in our Initial PublicMarch 2018 Common Stock Offering

        CertainDr. Miller, our President and CEO, and certain holders of more than five percent (5%) of our capital stock and their affiliated entities purchased shares of our common stock in our IPO, from the underwritersunderwritten common stock offering, which closed on March 12, 2018 (the "2018 Offering"), for payment in excess of $120,000 as summarized in the following table. The underwriters received the same underwriting


Table of Contents

discount from the sale of the shares of our common stock to these holders as they did from other shares of our common stock sold to the public in the IPO.2018 Offering.

Participants
 Number of Shares
of Common
Stock Purchased
 Aggregate
Purchase
Price
 

Novo Holdings A/S(1)

  1,176,470 $9,999,995 

Orbimed Private Investments V, LP(2)

  588,235  4,999,998 

Entities affiliated with Adams Street Partners(3)

  588,235  4,999,998 

Richard A. Miller, M.D.(4)

  100,000  850,000 

Participants
 Number of Shares
of Common
Stock
Purchased
 Aggregate
Purchase
Price
 

Entities affiliated with Fidelity Management & Research Company

  850,000 $12,750,000 

Novo A/S

  666,666  9,999,990 

Orbimed Private Investments V, LP

  550,000  8,250,000 

Entities affiliated with Adams Street Partners

  200,000  3,000,000 
(1)
Novo Holdings A/S and its affiliates owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the 2018 Offering. Peter Moldt, Ph.D. is currently, and was at the time of the 2018 Offering stock financing, a member of our board of directors and a partner of Novo Ventures (US) Inc., which provides certain consultancy services to Novo Holdings A/S.

(2)
Orbimed Private Investments V, LP and its affiliates owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the 2018 Offering. Peter Thompson, M.D. is currently, and was at the time of the 2018 Offering stock financing, a member of our board of directors and is an employee of Orbimed Advisors LLC, an affiliate of Orbimed Private Investments V, LP.

(3)
Entities affiliated with Adams Street Partners owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the 2018 Offering. Elisha P. Gould is currently, and was at the time of the 2018 Offering stock financing, a member of our board of directors and is a partner of Adams Street Partners, LLC.

(4)
Dr. Miller is currently, and was at the time of the 2018 Offering stock financing, our president and chief executive officer and a member of our board of directors.

Investors' Rights Agreement

        We are party to an amended and restated investors' rights agreement, dated as of September 16, 2015, pursuant to which certain of our stockholders, including certain holders of five percent (5%) or more of our capital stock and entities affiliated with certain of our directors, have the right to demand that we file a registration statement for their shares of our common stock or request that their shares of our common stock be covered by a registration statement that we are otherwise filing. As of MarchDecember 31, 2017, the holders of approximately 12.4 million shares of our common stock are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act.

Demand Registration Rights

        At any time after 180 days following March 22, 2016, the holders of at least thirty percent (30%) of the registrable shares can, on not more than two (2) occasions, request that we register all or a portion of their shares if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $5,000,000 (after deduction of underwriter's discounts and expenses related to the issuance).

Piggyback Registration Rights

        In the event that we determine to register any of our securities under the Securities Act (subject to certain exceptions), in another offering, either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the holders of the registrable shares will be entitled to certain "piggyback" registration rights allowing holders to include their shares in such registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. As a result, whenever we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, other than with respect to a registration related to employee benefit plans, the offer and sale of debt securities, or corporate reorganizations or certain other transactions, the holders of registrable shares are entitled to notice of the registration and have the right, subject to limitations that the underwriters may impose on the number of shares included in the registration, to include their shares in the registration. In an underwritten offering, the underwriters have the right, subject to specified conditions and limitations, to limit the number of shares such holders may include.

Form S-3 Registration Rights

        The holders of registrable shares will be entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. The holders of any of these shares may make a written request that we register their shares on Form S-3 if we are eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3 and if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $2,000,000 (after deduction of underwriter's discounts and expenses related to the issuance). These stockholders may make an unlimited number of requests for registration on Form S-3, but in no event shall we be required to file more than two (2) registrations on Form S-3 in any twelve-month period.


Table of Contents

Expenses of Registration

        We will pay the registration expenses of the holders of the shares registered pursuant to the demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described above, including the expenses in an amount not to exceed $35,000 of one special counsel for the selling holders.

Expiration of Registration Rights

        The demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described above will expire, with respect to any particular stockholder, upon the earlier of four (4) years after the consummation of our IPO or when such stockholder can immediately sell all of its shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act during any ninety (90) day period (and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Section c(1) of Rule 144 of the Securities Act).


Voting Agreement

        We were party to an amended and restated voting agreement with certain holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock until the consummation of our IPO in March 2016. The amended and restated voting agreement provided for certain voting rights for members of our board of directors in favor of certain holders of convertible preferred stock. This agreement terminated upon the consummation of our IPO.

Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement

        We were party to an amended and restated right of first refusal and co-sale agreement with certain holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock until the consummation of our IPO in March 2016. The amended and restated right of first refusal and co-sale agreement provided for, among other things, rights of first refusal and co-sale relating to the shares of our common stock held by the parties thereto. This agreement terminated upon the consummation of our IPO.


Table of Contents

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Director Compensation Table—Year Ended December 31, 20162017

        The following table presents information regarding the compensation paid for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20162017 to members of our board of directors who are not also employed by us or any of our subsidiaries (our non-employee directors). The compensation paid to Richard A. Miller, who is also our president and chief executive officer, is set forth in the section titled "Executive Compensation" in this proxy statement. Dr. Miller was not entitled to receive additional compensation for his service as a director:

NAME
 FEES
EARNED OR
PAID IN CASH
($)
 OPTION
AWARDS(1)
($)
 TOTAL
($)
  FEES EARNED
OR PAID
IN CASH ($)
 OPTION
AWARDS(1)
($)
 TOTAL ($) 

Ian T. Clark(2)

     45,000 417,914 462,914 

Elisha P. (Terry) Gould III

 33,313 305,765 339,078  43,000 103,612 146,612 

Steve E. Krognes

 48,338 305,765 354,103  51,000 103,612 154,612 

Peter Moldt, Ph.D.

    

Peter Moldt, Ph.D.(2).

    

Scott W. Morrison

 61,668  61,668  61,000 103,612 164,612 

Peter Thompson, M.D.

 36,412 305,765 342,177  47,000 103,612 150,612 

(1)
Amounts reported in the Option Awards column represent the grant date fair values of stock options calculated in accordance with Financial Account Standards Board (FASB) ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. For a discussion of the assumptions used to calculate the value of our stock options, see Note 11 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.2017. As of December 31, 2016,2017, our non-employee directors held outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock as follows: Mr. Clark, 45,000; Mr. Gould, 30,000;45,000; Mr. Krognes, 30,000;45,000; Mr. Morrison, 30,000;45,000; and Dr. Thompson, 30,000.45,000. Other than these options, none of our non-employee directors held any other equity awards in the Company on that date.

(2)
Appointed asDr. Moldt is a directorpartner of Novo Ventures (US) Inc., which provides certain consultancy services to Novo Holdings A/S. Dr. Moldt has waived his right to receive any compensation in January 2017.respect to his services on our board of directors.

Director Compensation

        In December 2015, our board of directors approved a compensation policy for our non-employee directors (the "Director Compensation Program"). Pursuant to our Director Compensation Program, our non-employee directors receiveare entitled to cash compensation, paid quarterly in arrears, as follows:


Table of Contents