Assembly Biosciences Reports Inducement Grants under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 02, 2018 -- Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASMB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a new class of oral therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and novel oral live biotherapeutics for disorders associated with the microbiome, today announced grants of options to four new employees to purchase an aggregate of 14,150 shares of Assembly’s common stock with an exercise price of $45.80 per share, the closing price on February 1, 2018. The stock options have a ten-year term and vest over four years, with one-fourth vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining three-fourths vesting in equal monthly installments thereafter. The options in all cases are subject to such employees’ continued service with Assembly through the applicable vesting dates and to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the option agreements. None of these new employees are executive officers.

The stock options were granted outside of Assembly’s stockholder-approved equity incentive plan pursuant to Assembly’s 2017 Inducement Award Plan. The stock options were approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which is comprised solely of independent directors, as an inducement material to the employees entering into employment with Assembly in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), which requires this public announcement.

About Assembly Biosciences
Assembly Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage public biotechnology company developing two innovative platform programs: an HBV program advancing a new class of oral therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and a microbiome program developing novel oral live biotherapeutics designed to address diseases associated with the microbiome. Assembly's HBV program is advancing multiple drug candidates with the aim of increasing cure rates in patients with chronic HBV. The company's microbiome program consists of a fully integrated platform that includes a robust strain identification and selection process, methods for strain isolation and growth under current Good Manufacturing Practices and a patent-pending delivery system, GEMICEL^®, which allows for targeted oral delivery of live biologic and conventional therapies to the lower gastrointestinal tract. Assembly is developing a robust pipeline of product candidates in multiple disease indications. For more information, visit www.assemblybio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events, including statements about the clinical and therapeutic potential of Assembly’s development programs. Certain forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by use of forward-looking terminology such as “designed” or “developing.”  Assembly intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Assembly are more fully detailed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Assembly's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Assembly assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts                                                                                                                                                     

Investors:
Lauren Glaser 
(415) 521-3828
[email protected]

Media:
Barbara Lindheim      
(212) 584-2276
[email protected]