UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

Global Blood Therapeutics, 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):

GLOBAL BLOOD THERAPEUTICS, INC.

171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 300

South San Francisco, CA 94080

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JUNE 18, 2019

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. local time, at the principal executive offices of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080, for the following purposes:

These items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice.

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on Monday, April 22, 2019 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournments of the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you are urged to vote as soon as possible as instructed in the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials that you will receive in the mail. You may vote via the Internet or telephone, or via mail by requesting a printed copy of the proxy card at any time on or before Tuesday, June 4, 2019. Voting promptly will help us avoid the additional expense of further solicitation to assure a quorum at the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting and file with the Secretary of the Company an instrument revoking your proxy or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, your proxy will not be used.

South San Francisco, California

April 29, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOBAL BLOOD THERAPEUTICS, INC.

171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 300

South San Francisco, CA 94080

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON JUNE 18, 2019

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

General

This proxy statement (“Proxy Statement”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use prior to or at the 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”), a Delaware corporation, to be held at 8:00 a.m., local time, on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 and at any adjournments or postponements thereof for the following purposes:

The Annual Meeting will be held at our principal executive offices at 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 300, South San Francisco, California 94080. On or about May 2, 2019, we will mail to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) containing instructions on how to access this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (“Annual Report”).

Solicitation

This solicitation is made on behalf of the Board of Directors. We will bear the costs of preparing, mailing, online processing and other costs of the proxy solicitation made by our Board of Directors. Certain of our officers and employees may solicit the submission of proxies authorizing the voting of shares in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. Such solicitations may be made by email, telephone, facsimile transmission or personal solicitation. No additional compensation will be paid to such officers, directors or regular employees for such services. We will reimburse banks, brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials to stockholders.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

In accordance with rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), instead of mailing a printed copy of our proxy materials to each stockholder of record, we may furnish proxy materials via the Internet. Accordingly, all of our stockholders will receive a Notice, to be mailed on or about May 2, 2019.

On the date of mailing the Notice, stockholders will be able to access all of the proxy materials on the website at www.proxyvote.com. The proxy materials will be available free of charge. The Notice will instruct

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you as to how you may access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials (including the Annual Report) over the Internet or through other methods specified on the website. The website contains instructions as to how to vote by Internet or over the telephone. The Notice also instructs you as to how you may request a paper or email copy of the proxy card. If you received a Notice and would like to receive printed copies of the proxy materials, you should follow the instructions included in the Notice for requesting such materials.

Voting Rights and Outstanding Shares

Only holders of record of our common stock as of the close of business on April 22, 2019 are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Each holder of common stock will be entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on April 22, 2019, there were 56,403,817 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to take action at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders representing a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of the record date (present in person or represented by proxy) will constitute a quorum. We will appoint an inspector of elections for the meeting to determine whether or not a quorum is present and to tabulate votes cast by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions, withheld votes and broker non-votes (which occur when a broker, bank or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular matter because such broker, bank or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote on that matter and has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner) are counted as present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

Vote Required for Each Proposal

The vote required, and the method of calculation, for each proposal at our Annual Meeting is described below.

“Discretionary Voting Permitted” means that brokers will have discretionary voting authority with respect to shares held in street name for their clients, even if the broker does not receive voting instructions from their client.

“Majority” means a majority of the votes properly cast for and against such matter.

“Plurality” means a plurality of the votes properly cast on such matter. For the election of directors, the three nominees receiving the highest number of votes, in person or by proxy, will be elected as directors.

Proposal One—Election of Directors

The three Class I director nominees receiving the highest number of votes, in person or by proxy, will be elected. You may vote “FOR” all nominees, “WITHHOLD” for all nominees, or “WITHHOLD” for any nominee by specifying the name of the nominee on your proxy card. This proposal is not considered to be a discretionary item, so if you do not instruct your broker how to vote with respect to this proposal, your broker may not vote on this proposal, and those votes will be counted as broker “non-votes.” Withheld votes and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the election of the directors.

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Proposal Two—Approval, on a Non-Binding, Advisory Basis, of the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers

Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast for and against this proposal. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” from voting on this proposal. If you abstain from voting on this proposal, your shares will not be counted as “votes cast” with respect to this proposal, and the abstention will have no effect on this proposal. This proposal is not considered to be a routine item, so if you do not instruct your broker how to vote with respect to this proposal, your broker may not vote on this proposal, and those votes will be counted as broker “non-votes.” Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.

Proposal Three—Approval of the Ratification of KPMG LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Approval of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast for and against this proposal. You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” from voting on this proposal. If you abstain from voting on this proposal, your shares will not be counted as “votes cast” with respect to this proposal, and the abstention will have no effect on the proposal. This proposal is considered to be a discretionary item, and your broker will be able to vote on this proposal even if it does not receive instructions from you. Accordingly, we do not anticipate that there will be any broker non-votes on this proposal; however, any broker non-votes will not be counted as “votes cast” and will therefore have no effect on this proposal.

We request that you vote your shares by proxy as instructed in the Notice by one of the following methods: over the Internet, by telephone or by mail. If you choose to vote by mail, your shares will be voted in accordance with your voting instructions if the proxy card is received prior to or at the Annual Meeting. If you sign and return your proxy card but do not give voting instructions, your shares will be voted FOR (i) the election of each of the three nominees as Class I directors; (ii) the approval, on a non-binding, advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers; (iii) the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019; and (iv) as the proxy holders deem advisable, in their discretion, on other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

Voting by Proxy Over the Internet or by Telephone

Stockholders whose shares are registered in their own names may vote by proxy by mail, over the Internet or by telephone. Instructions for voting by proxy over the Internet or by telephone are set forth on the Notice. The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17, 2019. The Notice will also provide instructions on how you can elect to receive future proxy materials electronically or in printed form by mail. If you choose to receive future proxy materials electronically, you will receive an email next year with instructions containing a link to the proxy materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials electronically or in printed form by mail will remain in effect until you terminate such election.

If your shares are held in street name, the voting instruction form sent to you by your broker, bank or other nominee should indicate whether the institution has a process for beneficial holders to provide voting instructions over the Internet or by telephone. A number of banks and brokerage firms participate in a program that also permits stockholders whose shares are held in street name to direct their vote over the Internet or by telephone. If your bank or brokerage firm gives you this opportunity, the voting instructions from the bank or brokerage firm that accompany this Proxy Statement will tell you how to use the Internet or telephone to direct the vote of shares held in your account. If your voting instruction form does not include Internet or telephone information, please complete and return the voting instruction form in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided by your broker. Stockholders who vote by proxy over the Internet or by telephone need not return a proxy card or voting instruction form by mail, but may incur costs, such as usage charges, from telephone companies or Internet service providers.

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Revocability of Proxies

Any proxy may be revoked at any time before it is exercised by filing an instrument revoking it with our Secretary or by submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date prior to the time of the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who have voted by proxy over the Internet or by telephone or have executed and returned a proxy and who then attend the Annual Meeting and desire to vote in person are requested to notify our Secretary in writing prior to the time of the Annual Meeting. We request that all such written notices of revocation be addressed to Tricia Suvari, Secretary, c/o Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., at the address of our principal executive offices at 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 300, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Our telephone number is (650) 741-7700. Stockholders may also revoke their proxy by entering a new vote over the Internet or by telephone before these voting facilities close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17, 2019.

Stockholder Proposals to be Presented at the Next Annual Meeting

Any stockholder who meets the requirements of the proxy rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), may submit proposals to the Board of Directors to be presented at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Such proposals must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and be submitted in writing by notice delivered or mailed by first-class United States mail, postage prepaid, to our Secretary at our principal executive offices at the address set forth above no later than January 3, 2020 in order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials to be disseminated by the Board of Directors for such annual meeting. If the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is moved by more than 30 days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, then notice must be received within a reasonable time before we begin to print and send proxy materials. If that happens, we will publicly announce the deadline for submitting a proposal in a press release or in a document filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). A proposal submitted outside the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act will be considered untimely if received after March 18, 2020.

Our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“Bylaws”) also provide for separate notice procedures to recommend a person for nomination as a director or to propose business to be considered by stockholders at a meeting. To be considered timely under these provisions, the stockholder’s notice must be received by our Secretary at our principal executive offices at the address set forth above no earlier than February 19, 2020 and no later than March 20, 2020. Our Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice.

The Board of Directors, a designated committee thereof or the chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the introduction of any stockholder proposal if it is not made in compliance with the applicable notice provisions.

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PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

General

Our certificate of incorporation provides for a Board of Directors that is divided into three classes. The term for each class is three years, staggered over time. In 2019, the term of the directors in Class I expires.

Ms. Dawn Svoronos was appointed to the Board of Directors as a Class I director on December 19, 2018. Three of our Class I directors—Drs. Ted W. Love and Glenn F. Pierce and Ms. Svoronos—will stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. In March 2019, Dr. Charles Homcy, who is the fourth Class I director, notified us that he intends to resign from the Board of Directors, including the Research and Development Committee of the Board on which he serves, effective as of the Annual Meeting, and accordingly, he will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. Dr. Homcy’s decision to resign was not the result of any disagreement with us on any matters relating to our operations, policies or practices. Following the Annual Meeting, Dr. Homcy plans to become an advisor on the Research and Development Committee.

Our Board of Directors is currently comprised of ten members and will adjust to nine members as of the date of the Annual Meeting. If the Class I director nominees who are standing for re-election are elected at the Annual Meeting, our Board of Directors will be as follows: Class I—Drs. Love and Pierce and Ms. Svoronos; Class II—Mr. Willie L. Brown, Jr., Dr. Philip A. Pizzo and Ms. Wendy Yarno; and Class III—Messrs. Scott W. Morrison, Deval L. Patrick and Mark L. Perry.

In the absence of instructions to the contrary, the persons named as proxy holders in the accompanying proxy intend to vote in favor of the election of the three Class I nominees designated below to serve until the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. Each nominee is currently a director. The Board of Directors expects that each nominee will be available to serve as a director, but if any such nominee should become unavailable or unwilling to stand for election, it is intended that the shares represented by the proxy will be voted for such substitute nominee as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

The biographies of our director nominees and each director whose term will continue after the Annual Meeting and their ages as of March 31, 2019 are set forth below.

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Class I: Director Nominees

The persons listed below are nominated for election to Class I of the Board of Directors to serve a three-year term ending at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR”

THE CLASS I DIRECTOR NOMINEES BELOW.

Ted W. Love, M.D. has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President since June 2014, and as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2013. From February 2010 to August 2012, Dr. Love served as executive vice president, research and development and technical operations of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to that, from 2001 to January 2009, he served as president, chief executive officer and chairman of Nuvelo, Inc., and previously served as senior vice president, development of Theravance, Inc., from 1998 to 2001. Previously, he spent six years at Genentech, Inc., where he held a number of senior management positions in medical affairs and product development and served as chairman of Genentech’s Product Development Committee. Dr. Love currently serves on the board of directors of Amicus Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company. Dr. Love holds a B.A. from Haverford College and an M.D. from Yale Medical School. He completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Love’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his role as our principal executive officer and more than 20 years of broad leadership and management experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Glenn F. Pierce, M.D., Ph.D. has served as a member of our Board of Directors since February 2016. In February 2016, Dr. Pierce joined Third Rock Ventures, a venture capital firm, as an independent consultant and entrepreneur-in-residence. In 2018, Dr. Pierce co-founded Ambys Medicines, a biopharmaceutical company, and currently serves as Chief Medical Officer. He also serves on the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Board and the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) (US) Medical and Scientific Advisory Council. Dr. Pierce is also a director of Voyager Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Pierce retired from Biogen in 2014 as senior vice president of Hematology, Cell and Gene Therapies. He had overall R&D responsibility for hemophilia and hemoglobinopathies and served as Chief Medical Officer since joining the company in 2009. Dr. Pierce was also responsible for global medical affairs for Biogen’s portfolio from 2012 to 2014. Dr. Pierce has 30 years’ experience in biotechnology research and development, beginning at Amgen, is the co-author of more than 150 scientific papers and is a named inventor in over 15 patents. Dr. Pierce also served on the Blood Products Advisory Committee at the United States Food and Drug Administration and the Committee on Blood Safety and Availability at the United States Department of Health and Human Services. He received an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Immunology, both from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and did his postgraduate training in pathology and hematology research at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Pierce’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include nearly 30 years of experience in leading biotechnology research and development in small, large, public and private biotechnology and biopharmaceutical firms.

Dawn Svoronos has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2018. Ms. Svoronos has more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including extensive commercial work with the multinational pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. Inc., where she held roles of increasing seniority over 23 years of service. Prior to her retirement from Merck in 2011, Ms. Svoronos most recently served as President of Merck in Europe/Canada from 2009 to 2011, President of Merck in Canada from 2006 to 2009 and Vice-President of Merck for Asia Pacific from 2005 to 2006. Ms. Svoronos currently serves on the boards of directors of the following public companies: Endocyte Inc., PTC Therapeutics, Inc., Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Theratechnologies Inc. Previously, Ms. Svoronos served on the board of directors of Medivation Inc., from 2013 until its acquisition in 2016. Ms. Svoronos holds a B.A. from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Ms. Svoronos’ qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include her extensive experience in the global commercialization of pharmaceutical products, including her substantial international commercial experience as well as her leadership experience and her service on the boards of directors of other public companies.

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Class II: Directors Currently Serving Until the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Willie L. Brown, Jr. has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January 2015. Since January 2004, Mr. Brown has served as an attorney at law representing clients before state and local governments. Prior to that, from January 1996 to January 2004, Mr. Brown served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco. Mr. Brown is a practicing attorney, community leader and well-respected public official who served over 31 years in the California State Assembly, spending more than 14 years as its Speaker, from 1980 to 1995. He currently serves as chairman and chief executive officer of The Willie L. Brown, Jr. Institute on Politics and Public Service, an independent, non-profit organization providing a forum for non-partisan education, debate and discussion of public policy issues. Mr. Brown holds a degree in political science from San Francisco State University and a J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He has received over 17 honorary degrees from prestigious institutions throughout his life. Mr. Brown’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include more than 50 years of political, business and non-profit experience.

Philip A. Pizzo, M.D. has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2015. Dr. Pizzo currently serves as the David and Susan Heckerman Professor of Pediatrics and of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford School of Medicine and is a founding director of the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute. He previously served as Dean of the Stanford School of Medicine from 2001 to 2012, where he was also the Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Professor of Pediatrics and of Microbiology and Immunology. Before joining Stanford, he was the physician-in-chief of Children’s Hospital in Boston and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School from 1996 to 2001. Prior to that, Dr. Pizzo was at the National Cancer Institute, eventually serving as chief of pediatrics and acting scientific director in the Division of Clinical Sciences. Dr. Pizzo is the author of more than 630 scientific articles and 16 books and monographs, has received numerous awards and honors, is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and serves on several international boards. Dr. Pizzo holds a B.A. from Fordham University and an M.D. from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine. Dr. Pizzo’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his leadership in academic medicine, and his work in the fields of pediatric medicine, science, education and healthcare.

Wendy Yarno has served as a member of our Board of Directors since December 2017. Ms. Yarno retired in September 2008 from Merck & Co, Inc. where she served in commercial and human resource positions of increasing seniority, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer, before she retired. Prior to this position, Ms. Yarno served as General Manager for Merck’s Cardiovascular/Metabolic United States Business Unit and as Senior Vice President, Human Resources. From 2010 to 2011, Ms. Yarno was the Chief Marketing Officer of HemoShear LLC, a biotechnology research company. Ms. Yarno currently serves on the boards of directors of the biopharmaceuticals companies Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., MyoKardia, Inc. and Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Aratana Therapeutics, Inc., a pet therapeutics company. Ms. Yarno previously served as member of the board of directors of St. Jude Medical, Inc., a medical device company, from 2002 until January 2017 when St. Jude Medical was acquired by Abbott Laboratories; Medivation, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from April 2013 until September 2016 when Medivation was acquired by Pfizer Inc.; and Durata Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, from August 2014 until November 2014 when Durata was acquired by Actavis plc. Ms. Yarno received an M.B.A. from Temple University, Fox School of Business, and a B.S. in business administration from Portland State University. Ms. Yarno’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include her extensive experience commercializing pharmaceutical products, and her extensive operational and senior management experience, in the biopharmaceutical industry, as well as her experience serving on the board of directors (and certain key standing committees) of other biopharmaceutical companies.

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Class III: Directors Currently Serving Until the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Scott W. Morrison has served as a member of our Board of Directors since January 2016. From 1996 to December 2015, Mr. Morrison was a partner at Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting firm, and served as its U.S. Life Sciences Leader since 2002. He currently serves on the board of directors of Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, Audentes Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, Ideaya Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company, and SYMIC Biomedical, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Morrison has served on numerous life sciences industry boards, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) ECS Board, the Bay Area Bioscience Center Board (now California Life Sciences Association), the California Life Sciences Foundation and the Biotechnology Institute. Mr. Morrison holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the University of California, Berkeley and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). Mr. Morrison’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include significant accounting expertise and knowledge of the life sciences industry through his 37-year career in public accounting serving public and private companies in the life sciences sector, as well as his experience serving on the board of directors (and certain key standing committees) of other biotechnology companies.

Deval L. Patrick has served as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2015. In April 2015, Mr. Patrick joined Bain Capital, LP, where he serves as managing director. From January 2007 to January 2015, Mr. Patrick served as the governor of Massachusetts. Prior to his tenure in government, from 2000 to 2004, Mr. Patrick served as the executive vice president and general counsel at The Coca-Cola Company. Prior to that, he served as vice president and general counsel at Texaco Inc., from 1998 to 1999. He was a partner in two Boston law firms and, from 1994 to 1997, served as the Assistant Attorney General of the United States for Civil Rights in the Department of Justice. Mr. Patrick received an A.B. in English and American Literature from Harvard College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Mr. Patrick’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his significant experience as a business and government leader with a record of success in solving complex problems, making strategic investments, managing crises and building teams locally, nationally and internationally.

Mark L. Perry has served as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2015. From October 2012 to October 2013, Mr. Perry served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Third Rock Ventures. Since August 2011, he has served on various boards of companies and non-profit organizations. In October 2004, Mr. Perry joined Aerovance, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, as a director, and he served as president and chief executive officer of Aerovance from February 2007 to October 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Perry served as the senior business adviser of Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from April 2004 to February 2007 and as an executive officer from May 1994 to April 2004, during which time he served in a variety of capacities, including general counsel, chief financial officer and executive vice president of operations. Earlier in his career, from 1981 to 1994, Mr. Perry served as an attorney at Cooley LLP, and was a partner of the firm from 1987 to 1994. Mr. Perry currently serves on the board of directors of Nvidia Corporation, a visual computing company, as the lead independent director, and MyoKardia, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, as the non-executive chairman of the board. Mr. Perry received a B.A. in history from the University of California, Berkeley and a J.D. from the University of California, Davis. Mr. Perry’s qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include more than 30 years of experience serving in professional and management positions in the biotechnology industry, as well as his experience serving on the board of directors (and certain key standing committees) of other biopharmaceutical companies.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Management

Risk is inherent with every business, and how well a business manages risk can ultimately determine its success. We face a number of risks, including risks relating to our financial condition, development and commercialization activities, clinical and regulatory matters, operations and intellectual property. Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks we face, while our Board of Directors, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management. In its risk oversight role, our Board of Directors has the responsibility to satisfy itself that the risk management processes designed and implemented by management are adequate and functioning as designed.

The role of our Board of Directors in overseeing the management of our risks is conducted primarily through committees of the Board of Directors, as disclosed in the descriptions of each of the committees below and in the charters of each of the committees. The full Board of Directors (or the appropriate board committee in the case of risks that are under the purview of a particular committee) discusses with management our major risk exposures, their potential impact on our company, and the steps we take to manage them. When a board committee is responsible for evaluating and overseeing the management of a particular risk or risks, the chairman of the relevant committee reports on the discussion to the full Board of Directors during the committee reports portion of the next board meeting. This enables our Board of Directors and its committees to coordinate the risk oversight role, particularly with respect to risk interrelationships.

Compensation Risk Assessment

We believe that although a portion of the compensation provided to our executive officers and other employees is performance-based, our compensation programs do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk taking. This is primarily due to the fact that our compensation programs are designed to encourage our executive officers and other employees to remain focused on both short-term and long-term strategic goals, in particular in connection with our pay-for-performance compensation philosophy. As a result, we do not believe that the risks associated with our compensation programs are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Board of Directors and Committees of the Board

During 2018, the Board of Directors held a total of six meetings. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the number of Board meetings and the number of meetings of Board committees on which each such director served during the time each such director served on the Board or such committees, except Dr. Homcy, who attended 67% of the aggregate of the number of Board meetings and the number of meetings of Board committees on which he served during the time he served on such committees.

Our Board of Directors has determined that all of our directors, except for Dr. Love, are independent, as determined in accordance with the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”) and the SEC. In making such independence determination, the Board of Directors considered the relationships that each non-employee director has with us and all other facts and circumstances that the Board of Directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director. In considering the independence of the directors listed above, our Board of Directors also considered the association of our directors with the holders of more than 5% of our common stock. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Each of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is composed entirely of independent directors in accordance

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with current NASDAQ listing standards. Furthermore, our Audit Committee meets the enhanced independence standards established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rulemaking of the SEC. Copies of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charters and our corporate governance guidelines are available, free of charge, on our website at http://www.gbt.com.

The Board of Directors also has a standing Research and Development Committee and Commercial Committee, which are advisory committees.

Audit Committee

Mr. Morrison, Mr. Patrick and Mr. Perry currently serve on the Audit Committee, which is chaired by Mr. Morrison. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Mr. Morrison and Mr. Perry is an “Audit Committee financial expert,” as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:

During 2018, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Patrick and Mr. Perry served on the Audit Committee and the Committee held four meetings.

Compensation Committee

Mr. Perry, Mr. Patrick, Mr. Morrison and Ms. Yarno currently serve on the Compensation Committee, which is chaired by Mr. Perry. The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include:

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Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to engage compensation consultants to assist in its evaluation of executive and non-employee director compensation. For 2018, the Compensation Committee engaged Compensia, Inc., a national compensation consulting firm (“Compensia”), as a compensation consultant to, among other things, develop a peer group of companies to assess the competitiveness of our executive, equity and non-employee director compensation programs, and to review our equity compensation program and broader equity practices. Our Compensation Committee plans to engage one or more third-party compensation advisors to provide similar information and advice in future years for consideration in establishing overall compensation for our executives and non-employee directors. We do not believe the retention of, and the work performed by, Compensia creates any conflict of interest. See “Executive Compensation-Compensation Discussion and Analysis-Governance of Executive Compensation Program—Role of Compensation Consultant” below for more information.

During 2018, Mr. Perry, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Patrick, and Ms. Yarno served on the Compensation Committee and the Committee held four meetings.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

Mr. Brown, Dr. Pizzo and Ms. Yarno currently serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which is chaired by Mr. Brown. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s responsibilities include:

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During 2018, Mr. Brown, Dr. Pizzo and Ms. Yarno served on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Committee held two meetings. Ms. Yarno was appointed as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee on March 13, 2018.

Research and Development Committee (Advisory)

Our Board of Directors formed a Research and Development Committee in March 2016. Dr. Pierce, Dr. Homcy and Dr. Pizzo currently serve on the Research and Development Committee, which is chaired by Dr. Pierce. The Research and Development Committee’s responsibilities include providing advice and support related to our research and development programs, strategy and goals. Dr. Homcy has notified us that he intends to resign from the Board of Directors, including the Research and Development Committee, effective as of the Annual Meeting. Following the Annual Meeting, Dr. Homcy plans to become an advisor on the Research and Development Committee.

Commercial Committee (Advisory)

Our Board of Directors formed a Commercial Committee in December 2018. Ms. Yarno, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Perry and Ms. Svoronos currently serve on the Commercial Committee, which is chaired by Ms. Yarno. The Commercial Committee’s responsibilities include providing advice and support related to our potential and actual commercialization of any products, including our strategy and goals from pre-launch planning through any approval, launch and later phases of the product lifecycle.

Board Leadership

We do not currently have a Chairman of the Board, but we have appointed Mark L. Perry to serve as our lead independent director. We believe that the appointment of a lead independent director allows our Chief Executive Officer to focus on our day-to-day business, while allowing the lead independent director to lead our Board of Directors in its fundamental role of providing advice to and independent oversight of management. Our Board of Directors recognizes the time, effort and energy that the Chief Executive Officer is required to devote to his position in the current business environment, as well as the commitment required to serve as our lead independent director, particularly as our Board of Directors’ oversight responsibilities continue to grow.

While our Bylaws and corporate governance guidelines do not require that we appoint a separate Chairman of the Board or lead independent director and Chief Executive Officer, our Board of Directors believes that having a Chief Executive Officer and a separate designated lead independent director is the appropriate leadership structure for us at this time and demonstrates our commitment to good corporate governance. Our separated lead independent director and Chief Executive Officer positions are augmented by the independence of nine of our ten directors, and our entirely independent Board committees that provide appropriate oversight in the areas described above. At executive sessions of independent directors, these directors speak candidly on any matter of interest, without the Chief Executive Officer or other executives present. The independent directors met four times in 2018 without management present. We believe this structure provides consistent and effective oversight of our management and the Company.

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Director Nominations

The director qualifications developed to date focus on what our Board believes to be essential competencies to effectively serve on the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reassesses such criteria from time to time and submits any proposed changes to the Board of Directors for approval. Presently, at a minimum, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must be satisfied that each nominee it recommends (i) has experience at a strategic or policymaking level in a business, government, non-profit or academic organization of high standing, (ii) is highly accomplished in his or her respective field, with superior credentials and recognition, (iii) is well regarded in the community and has a long-term reputation for the highest personal and professional integrity, (iv) has sufficient time and availability to devote to the affairs of the Company, particularly in light of the number of boards of directors on which such nominee may serve, (v) to the extent such nominee serves or has previously served on other boards, the nominee has a demonstrated history of actively contributing at board meetings, and (vi) will be effective, collectively with other members of and/or candidates for our Board of Directors, in serving the long-term interests of our stockholders.

In addition to those minimum qualifications, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommends that our Board of Directors select persons for nomination to help ensure that:

In addition to other standards the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may deem appropriate from time to time for the overall structure and compensation of the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider the following factors when recommending that our Board select persons for nomination:

Although we have no formal policy regarding board diversity, we and our Board of Directors believe that corporate board diversity, including gender, racial and ethnic diversity, can provide a more effective and dynamic Board of Directors that can better mitigate risk and enhance long-term performance for stockholders. Accordingly, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers whether nominees assist in achieving a mix of Board members that represents a diversity of background and experience.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee adheres to the following process for identifying and evaluating nominees for the Board of Directors. First, it solicits recommendations for nominees from non-management directors, our Chief Executive Officer, other executive officers, third-party search firms or any other source it deems appropriate. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee then reviews and evaluates the qualifications of proposed nominees and conducts inquiries it deems appropriate; all proposed nominees are evaluated in the same manner, regardless of who initially recommended such nominee. In reviewing and evaluating proposed nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider, in addition to the minimum qualifications and other criteria for Board membership approved by our Board from time to time, all facts and circumstances that it deems appropriate or advisable, including, among other things, the skills of the proposed nominee, his or her depth and breadth of business experience or other background characteristics, his or her independence and the needs of the Board.

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If the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee decides to retain a third-party search firm to identify proposed nominees, it has sole authority to retain and terminate such firm and to approve any such firm’s fees and other retention terms.

Each nominee for election as director at the Annual Meeting is recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and is presently a director and stands for re-election by the stockholders. From time to time, we may pay fees to third-party search firms to assist in identifying and evaluating potential nominees, although no such fees have been paid in connection with nominations to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting.

Pursuant to our Bylaws, stockholders who wish to nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting must be a stockholder of record at the time of giving the notice, entitled to vote at the meeting, present (in person or by proxy) at the meeting and must comply with the notice procedures in our Bylaws. A stockholder’s notice of nomination to be made at an annual meeting must be delivered to our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting. However, if an annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, the notice must be delivered no later than the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting was made. A stockholder’s notice of nomination may not be made at a special meeting unless such special meeting is held in lieu of an annual meeting. The stockholder’s notice must include the following information for the person making the nomination:

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With respect to proposed director nominees, the stockholder’s notice must include all information required to be disclosed in a proxy statement in connection with a contested election of directors or otherwise required pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected).

For matters other than the election of directors, the stockholder’s notice must also include a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of the stockholder(s) proposing the business.

The stockholder’s notice must be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information required to be provided in the notice is true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten business days prior to the meeting.

The Board of Directors, a designated committee thereof or the chairman of the meeting will determine if the procedures in our Bylaws have been followed, and if not, declare that the proposal or nomination be disregarded. The nominee must be willing to provide any other information reasonably requested by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in connection with its evaluation of the nominee’s independence. There have been no material changes to the process by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors.

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

Stockholders may send correspondence to the Board of Directors c/o the lead independent director of the Board at our principal executive offices at the address set forth above. We will forward all correspondence addressed to the Board or any individual Board member. Stockholders may also communicate online with our Board of Directors as a group by accessing our website at http://www.gbt.com and selecting the “Investors” tab.

Director Attendance at Annual Meetings

Directors are encouraged to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. Although we generally attempt to schedule each annual meeting of stockholders to coincide with a regular meeting of our Board of Directors, we were unable to do so for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for logistical reasons. One of our directors attended the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the Compensation Committee is, or has at any time during the past fiscal year been, an officer or employee of the Company or had any relationship requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. None of the members of the Compensation Committee has formerly been an officer of the Company. None of our executive officers serve, or in the past fiscal year, have served as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any other entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.

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NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (the “Director Compensation Policy”) adopted by our Board of Directors is designed to provide a total compensation package, including cash, stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”), that is competitive in the market to enable us to attract and retain, on a long-term basis, high-caliber non-employee directors.

In 2018, the Director Compensation Policy provided that all non-employee directors would receive cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors as set forth below, prorated based on days of service during a calendar year.

The Director Compensation Policy also provided that each new non-employee director who was initially appointed or elected to our Board of Directors would receive a stock option grant to purchase 30,000 shares of common stock, which would vest in equal monthly installments during the 36 months following the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on our Board of Directors. Thereafter, on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, each continuing non-employee director would be eligible to receive an annual stock option grant to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock, which would vest in equal monthly installments during the 12 months following the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on our Board of Directors. All stock options granted to our non-employee directors pursuant to the Director Compensation Policy were subject to full acceleration of vesting upon the consummation of a “Sale Event,” as defined in the 2015 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”). Our non-employee directors could also be granted such additional stock options in such amounts and on such dates as our Board of Directors recommended. All of the foregoing stock options would be granted with a per share exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant and would be exercisable (to the extent vested) for up to one year following cessation of the director’s service on our Board of Directors, so long as the director was not removed for cause.

Effective January 1, 2019, based on Compensia’s analysis regarding our director compensation policies and practices relative to our compensation peer group, the Compensation Committee’s recommendation and its own knowledge and judgment, the Board of Directors amended the Director Compensation Policy to provide that

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all non-employee directors will receive cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors as set forth below, prorated based on days of service during a calendar year.

The current Director Compensation Policy also provides that each new non-employee director who is initially appointed or elected to our Board of Directors will receive a stock option grant to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock and 9,600 RSUs. The initial grant of stock options will vest in equal monthly installments during the 36 months following the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on our Board of Directors. The initial grant of RSUs will vest in equal annual installments during the three years following the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on our Board of Directors. Thereafter, on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, each continuing non-employee director will be eligible to receive an annual stock option grant to purchase 7,500 shares of common stock and 4,800 RSUs. The annual grant of stock options will vest in equal monthly installments during the 12 months following the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on our Board of Directors. The annual grant of RSUs will vest in a single installment on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on our Board of Directors. All stock options and RSUs granted to our non-employee directors pursuant to the Director Compensation Policy are subject to full acceleration of vesting upon the consummation of a “Sale Event,” as defined in the 2015 Plan. Our non-employee directors may also be granted such additional stock options and RSUs in such amounts and on such dates as our Board of Directors may recommend. All of the foregoing stock options will be granted with a per share exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant and will be exercisable (to the extent vested) for up to one year following cessation of the director’s service on our Board of Directors, so long as the director was not removed for cause.

We have also agreed to reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by non-employee directors in attending Board and committee meetings.

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2018 Director Compensation Table

The table below sets forth information with respect to the compensation received by our non-employee directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Dr. Love does not receive compensation for service on the Board of Directors and the compensation paid to Dr. Love as an employee of the Company is set forth under the heading “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table” below.

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PROPOSAL 2

NON-BINDING, ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE

OFFICERS

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) added Section 14A to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which requires that we provide our stockholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, commonly known as a “Say-on-Pay” vote. Stockholders may also abstain from voting. This Say-on-Pay vote is not intended to address any specific element of the compensation of our named executive officers, but rather the overall executive compensation of our named executive officers and our overall executive compensation program, philosophy and practices as described in this Proxy Statement.

This Say-on-Pay vote is advisory; therefore, it is not binding on the Company, our Board of Directors or our Compensation Committee. However, our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee will consider the result of this year’s vote in reviewing and determining the compensation of our named executive officers in the future because we value the opinions of our stockholders.

As described in this Proxy Statement, we believe the compensation of our named executive officers and our executive compensation program, philosophy and practices are appropriate, and enable us to attract, motivate and retain top-performing executive officers, including our named executive officers, while aligning the long-term interests of our executive officers with the long-term interests of our stockholders. Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:

RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion is hereby APPROVED.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE, ON A NON-BINDING, ADVISORY BASIS,

“FOR” THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

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PROPOSAL 3

RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019. Representatives of KPMG LLP will attend the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. They will also be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Our organizational documents do not require that the stockholders ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm, and stockholder ratification is not binding on the Company, the Board or the Audit Committee. We request such ratification, however, as a matter of good corporate practice. The ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal at the Annual Meeting. Our Board, including our Audit Committee, values the opinions of our stockholders and, to the extent there is any significant vote against the ratification of the selection of KPMG LLP as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns and evaluate what actions may be appropriate to address those concerns, although the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may still retain KPMG LLP.

The following table shows information about fees billed to the Company by KPMG LLP for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, retention and termination, and for determining the compensation, of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee shall pre-approve all auditing services and the terms thereof and non-audit services (other than non-audit services prohibited under Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act or the applicable rules of the SEC or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board), except that pre-approval is not required for the provision of non-audit services if the “de minimus” provisions of Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act are satisfied. The Audit Committee may delegate to the chairperson of the Audit Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals for audit and non-audit services, provided such approvals are presented to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. All services provided by KPMG LLP during fiscal years 2018 and 2017 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee in accordance with the pre-approval policy described above.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION

OF THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG LLP AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE COMPANY FOR ITS FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2019.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The following Audit Committee Report is not considered proxy solicitation material and is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any of our filings made under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act that might incorporate our filings under those statutes, the Audit Committee Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any of our prior filings or into any of our future filings under those statutes.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) has 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 Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the NASDAQ Stock Market regulations. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at http://www.gbt.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, 2018 with the Company’s management and KPMG LLP. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with management, and with KPMG LLP, with and without management present, their evaluation of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee also discussed with KPMG 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 KPMG LLP required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526 and the Audit Committee discussed the independence of KPMG 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 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.

The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors have recommended the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2019.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

SCOTT W. MORRISON, CHAIRMAN

DEVAL L. PATRICK

MARK L. PERRY

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The table below sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers as of March 31, 2019.

Executive Officers

The biographies of our executive officers, other than Dr. Love, whose biography is set forth above, appear below.

Jeffrey Farrow has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2016. Mr. Farrow previously served as chief financial officer of ZS Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, which was acquired by AstraZeneca in December 2015. Prior to ZS Pharma, he served as the chief financial officer at Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc., a commercial pharmaceutical company, from July 2010 until May 2015 where he was part of the team responsible for the successful regulatory approval and commercial launch of RAVICTI^® for the treatment of urea cycle disorders. He previously served as vice president of finance at Evotec AG, a drug discovery and development company. Prior to Evotec, Mr. Farrow served as vice president of finance and chief accounting officer at Renovis, Inc., a drug discovery and development company, which was acquired by Evotec AG. Earlier in his career, Mr. Farrow spent seven years working in the audit practice of KPMG LLP. Mr. Farrow holds a B.A. in business administration with a concentration in corporate finance from California State University at Fullerton and is a certified public accountant (inactive).

Brian Cathers, Ph.D. has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since February 2019. Dr. Cathers previously served as executive director and head of drug discovery at Celgene Corporation, or Celgene, from November 2015 to February 2019, and as senior director of biochemistry and structural biology at Celgene from October 2013 to November 2015. At Celegene, Dr. Cathers’ teams produced eight new development candidates and advanced five investigational drugs into clinical testing. Prior to joining Celgene, Dr. Cathers served as senior group leader and director at NewBiotics, Inc. from August 2000 to February 2004, where he oversaw enzymology and biophysical chemistry research, and was part of small team that developed a colorectal cancer drug from basic research to clinical testing. Prior to joining NewBiotics, he served as an enzymologist at Axys Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Cathers holds a B.S. in chemistry from Emporia State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from the University of Kansas.

Jung E. Choi has served as our Chief Business and Strategy Officer since April 2015. From April 2014 to March 2015, Ms. Choi served as senior vice president, corporate development for InterMune, Inc., a biotechnology company (acquired by Roche Holding AG in 2014), and served as an adviser on strategy and business development to InterMune from March 2013 to April 2014. Prior to joining InterMune, from February 2011 to March 2013, Ms. Choi led corporate and business development for Chimerix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, as a consultant and senior vice president, corporate development. Prior to that, from August 2001 to August 2010, Ms. Choi held various management positions at Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, including leadership of business development, licensing, and mergers and acquisition activities. During her tenure at Gilead Sciences, Ms. Choi built and oversaw the corporate development group, and led the U.S. commercial launch of Hepsera^® for the treatment of the hepatitis B virus. Ms. Choi holds a B.A. in human biology and an M.B.A. from Stanford University.

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David L. Johnson has served as our Chief Commercial Officer since March 2018. From October 2003 until February 2018, Mr. Johnson served in roles of increasing responsibility in the commercial organization at Gilead Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, ultimately as vice president, sales and marketing, for Gilead’s Liver Disease Business Unit. At Gilead, Mr. Johnson was responsible for the commercial launch of Gilead’s hepatitis C treatments Sovaldi^®, Harvoni^®, Epclusa^® and Vosevi^®, hepatitis B treatment Vemlidy^®, and HIV treatments Complera^® and Stribild^®. Prior to Gilead, from April 1992 to September 2003, Mr. Johnson served in various roles in sales, product marketing, business development, global commercial strategy and portfolio development at GlaxoSmithKline PLC, a British pharmaceutical company. Mr. Johnson holds a B.A. in business marketing from the University of Puget Sound and an M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.

Tricia Suvari, Esq., has served as our Chief Legal Officer since October 2016. From May 2000 until June 2009, Ms. Suvari served in several senior roles at CV Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company (acquired by Gilead Sciences, Inc. in 2009), ultimately as senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer of CV Therapeutics. Prior to CV Therapeutics, from May 1991 until May 2000, she served as corporate counsel at Genentech, Inc., in increasingly senior roles. From February 2012 until July 2016, Ms. Suvari served as a vice president and general counsel at the non-profit Peninsula Open Space Trust, and from early 2011 to February 2012 she served as an independent consultant supporting biopharmaceutical companies. Ms. Suvari earned her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Geology and Geophysics from Yale University and her J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CDA”) describes our executive compensation program and the 2018 compensation for our named executive officers, or NEOs. This CDA should be read with the compensation tables and related disclosures for our NEOs.

Our NEOs for 2018 were as follows:

We hired Mr. Johnson in March 2018.

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company determined to discover, develop and deliver innovative treatments that provide hope to underserved patient communities. Our lead product candidate is voxelotor, an oral, once-daily therapy for patients with sickle cell disease (“SCD”). SCD is a lifelong inherited blood disorder, which leads to the formation of abnormal hemoglobin known as sickle hemoglobin. Beginning in early childhood, SCD patients suffer many clinical consequences, including unpredictable and recurrent episodes, or crises, of severe chronic and acute pain, as well as anemia, stroke, spleen failure, pulmonary hypertension, acute chest syndrome, liver disease, kidney failure, other morbidities, and premature death. We are currently evaluating voxelotor in adult and adolescent patients with SCD in a Phase 3 clinical trial, which we call the HOPE Study, and in adolescent and pediatric patients with SCD in a Phase 2a clinical trial, which we call the HOPE-KIDS 1 Study.

We plan to submit a rolling new drug application (“NDA”) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for voxelotor for the treatment of SCD using an accelerated approval pathway under Subpart H of the NDA regulations. The FDA grants accelerated approval under Subpart H for new drugs that address serious or life-threatening illnesses and that provide meaningful therapeutic benefit to patients over existing treatments. Drugs approved under Subpart H are required to be further evaluated in at least one post-approval confirmatory study to verify clinical benefit.

Corporate Performance Highlights

Our executive compensation program seeks to incentivize and reward strong corporate performance. Highlights of our 2018 corporate performance are set forth below.

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Executive Compensation Philosophy

Our executive compensation program is guided by our overarching philosophy of paying for demonstrable performance. Consistent with this philosophy, we have designed our executive compensation program to achieve the following primary goals:

Executive Compensation Program Design

Our executive compensation program is designed to be reasonable and competitive, and balance our goal of attracting, motivating, rewarding and retaining top-performing senior executives with our goal of aligning their interests with those of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee annually evaluates our executive compensation program to ensure that it is consistent with our short-term and long-term goals and the dynamic nature of our business.

Our executive compensation program consists of a mix of compensation elements that balance achievement of our short-term goals with our long-term performance. We provide short-term incentive compensation opportunities in the form of annual cash bonuses, which focus on our achievement of annual corporate goals. We also provide long-term incentive compensation opportunities in the form of equity awards, including both stock options and RSUs, which focus on our long-term performance.

We believe that stock options provide a strong reward for growth in the market price of our common stock because their entire value depends on future stock price appreciation. We believe RSUs also reward growth in the market price of our common stock because they derive additional value from future stock price appreciation, and they are less dilutive to our stockholders because they require fewer shares than stock options. In addition, we believe that the multi-year vesting requirements applicable to both stock options and RSUs encourage retention because our senior executives are incentivized to remain employed through the vesting period.

Our executive compensation program is also designed to incorporate sound practices for compensation governance. Below we summarize such practices.

What We Do:

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What We Don’t Do:

At our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we held a non-binding, advisory vote on the compensation of our NEOs (a “Say-on-Pay” vote) and approximately 99% of the votes cast approved our executive compensation program for 2017. Our Board of Directors and Compensation Committee consider the result of the Say-on-Pay vote in determining the compensation of our executive officers. Based on the strong level of support for our executive compensation program demonstrated by the result of last year’s Say-on-Pay vote, among other factors, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee determined not to implement significant changes to our executive compensation program for 2018.

The Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee will continue to consider the result of the Say-on-Pay vote, as well as feedback received throughout the year, when making compensation decisions for our executive officers in the future because we value the opinions of our stockholders. In addition, consistent with the recommendation of our Board of Directors and the preference of our stockholders as reflected in the non-binding, advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes held at our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, we intend to hold an annual Say-on-Pay vote. Our next Say-on-Pay vote will be held at the Annual Meeting.

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Role of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors

The Compensation Committee discharges many of the responsibilities of our Board of Directors relating to the compensation of our executive officers, including our NEOs. The Compensation Committee oversees and evaluates our compensation and benefits policies generally, and the compensation plans, policies and practices applicable to our CEO and other executive officers. As described below, the Compensation Committee retains a compensation consultant to provide support in its review and assessment of our executive compensation program.

In addition, pursuant to our Equity Award Grant Policy, the Compensation Committee has delegated to our CEO the authority to approve grants of equity awards, subject to certain parameters, under the 2015 Plan and any other equity compensation plan that the Compensation Committee or the Board may determine to be subject to the policy, excluding our 2017 Inducement Equity Plan (the “2017 Inducement Plan”). See “Our Compensation Policies and Practices—Equity Award Grant Policy.”

At the beginning of the year, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves the primary elements of compensation—base salary increases, annual cash bonuses, and annual equity awards—for our CEO, as authorized by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Compensation Committee Charter, and for our other executive officers, including our other NEOs. In addition, the Compensation Committee may deem it advisable to review and approve subsequent compensation opportunities for our executive officers, including our NEOs other than our CEO, and may deem it advisable to recommend such opportunities for our CEO to the Board of Directors for final review and approval.

Compensation-Setting Factors

When reviewing and approving, or recommending to the Board of Directors as applicable, the amount of each compensation element and the target total compensation opportunity for our executive officers, the Compensation Committee considers the following factors:

These factors provide the framework for compensation decisions for each of our executive officers, including our NEOs. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, as applicable, do not assign

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relative weights or rankings to these factors, and do not consider any single factor as determinative in the compensation of our executive officers. Rather, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, as applicable, rely on their own knowledge and judgment in assessing these factors and making compensation decisions.

Role of Management

In discharging its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee works with management, including our CEO. Our management assists the Compensation Committee by providing information on corporate and individual performance, market compensation data and management’s perspective on compensation matters.

In addition, at the beginning of each year, our CEO reviews the performance of our other executive officers, including our other NEOs, based on our achievement of our annual corporate goals and each executive officer’s achievement of his or her departmental and individual goals established for the prior year and his or her overall performance during that year. The Compensation Committee solicits and reviews our CEO’s recommendations for base salary increases, annual cash bonuses, annual equity awards and any other compensation opportunities for our other executive officers, including our other NEOs, and considers our CEO’s recommendations in determining such compensation.

Role of Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committee engages an external compensation consultant to assist it by providing information, analysis and other advice relating to our executive compensation program. For 2018, the Compensation Committee engaged Compensia, Inc., a national compensation consulting firm (“Compensia”), as its compensation consultant to advise on executive compensation matters including:

Compensia reports directly to the Compensation Committee and to the Compensation Committee chairman. Compensia also coordinates with our management for data collection and job matching for our executive officers. Compensia did not provide any other services to us in 2018. The Compensation Committee has evaluated Compensia’s independence pursuant to the listing standards of the relevant NASDAQ and SEC rules and has determined that no conflict of interest has arisen as a result of the work performed by Compensia.

Role of Market Data

For purposes of comparing our executive compensation against the competitive market, the Compensation Committee reviews and considers the compensation levels and practices of a group of peer companies. This compensation peer group consists of public biotechnology companies that are similar to us in terms of market capitalization, stage of development, geographical location and number of employees. The Compensation Committee reviews our compensation peer group at least annually and makes adjustments to our peer group if necessary, taking into account changes in both our business and our peer companies’ businesses.

In July 2017, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Compensia, reviewed our then-existing compensation peer group to determine our peer group for the remainder of 2017 and for 2018. The Compensation Committee considered the following criteria:

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Based on a review of the analysis prepared by Compensia, the Compensation Committee approved the updated compensation peer group below for the remainder of 2017 and for 2018. This peer group was used in evaluating the 2018 annual base salary, target annual bonus opportunities and equity awards for our NEOs.

In November 2018, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of Compensia, reviewed our compensation peer group to determine our peer group for the remainder of 2018 and for 2019. The Compensation Committee considered the increase in our market capitalization, the increase in our headcount and our potential commercial launch as reflected in the following criteria:

Based on a review of the analysis prepared by Compensia, the Compensation Committee approved the updated compensation peer group below for the remainder of 2018 and for 2019.

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The Compensation Committee uses market data—from our compensation peer group and from the Radford Global Life Sciences Compensation survey—as one factor in evaluating whether the compensation for our executive officers is competitive in the market. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, as applicable, also rely on their own knowledge and judgment in evaluating market data and making compensation decisions.

The primary elements of our executive compensation program are:

We do not have a specific policy regarding the percentage allocation between short-term and long-term, or fixed and variable, compensation elements.

Our executive officers, including our NEOs, are also eligible to participate in our standard employee benefit plans, such as our health and welfare benefits plans, our employee stock purchase plan and our 401(k) Plan on the same basis as our other employees. In addition, as described below, our executive officers, including our NEOs, are entitled to certain change-in-control severance payments and benefits pursuant to our Change in Control Policy, and our CEO is also entitled to certain termination payments and benefits not in connection with a change in control.

Base Salary

We pay base salaries to our executive officers, including our NEOs, as the fixed portion of their compensation to provide them with a reasonable degree of financial certainty, and to attract and retain top-performing individuals. At the time of hire, base salaries are determined for our executive officers, including our NEOs, based on the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program—Compensation-Setting Factors” above. Typically, at the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee reviews base salaries for our executive officers, including our NEOs, based on such factors to determine if an increase is appropriate. In addition, base salaries may be adjusted in the event of a promotion or significant change in responsibilities.

2018 Annual Base Salary

In January 2018, the Compensation Committee reviewed the base salaries of our executive officers, including our NEOs. The Compensation Committee considered the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program—Compensation-Setting Factors” above. In particular, the Compensation Committee considered better alignment with comparable positions from our compensation peer group in determining the larger base salary increases for Dr. Love, Ms. Choi and Ms. Suvari. Effective as of February 16, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the base salaries of our NEOs, except Mr. Johnson, below.

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In March 2018, we hired Mr. Johnson as our Chief Commercial Officer. The Compensation Committee considered the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program-Compensation Setting Factors” above, particularly market data from our compensation peer group for comparable positions, in approving Mr. Johnson’s annual base salary of $440,000.

The actual base salaries paid to our NEOs in 2018 are set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” below.

Short-Term Incentive Compensation

Annual Cash Bonuses

We provide short-term incentive compensation opportunities to our executive officers, including our NEOs, in the form of annual cash bonuses to drive our short-term success. Our annual cash bonuses are tied to achievement of annual corporate and individual performance goals pursuant to our Senior Executive Cash Incentive Bonus Plan adopted by the Board of Directors in January 2016 (the “Cash Incentive Plan”). The Cash Incentive Plan provides that:

The Compensation Committee may also make certain immaterial rounding adjustments to the annual cash bonuses.

Corporate and Individual Performance Goals

At the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee, after reviewing management’s proposal, establishes the annual corporate performance goals that it believes will be the most significant drivers of our short-term and long-term success. The corporate performance goals include target achievement dates based on calendar quarters. Each corporate performance goal has a percentage weighting, and may include an additional percentage weighting for overachievement, based on the Compensation Committee’s assessment of the goal’s relative significance.

In addition, at the beginning of each year, our CEO, in consultation with each of the other executive officers, establishes individual performance goals for each of the other executive officers, including our other NEOs. The individual performance goals are generally designed to align the goals of our executive officers, including our NEOs, and his or her department with the corporate goals. The Compensation Committee weights annual cash bonuses for each of our executive officers, including our NEOs, between the achievement of corporate and individual goals. This weighting is the same for each of our executive officers, including our NEOs, who are at the same level. Our CEO does not have individual goals. Rather, his annual cash bonus is based 100% on achievement of our corporate goals in recognition of his overall responsibility for our corporate performance.

At the beginning of the year after the corporate performance goals are established, the Compensation Committee, after reviewing management’s self-assessment, evaluates our achievement of the prior year’s

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corporate performance goals, and our overall success in the prior year, and determines our total percentage achievement level. Our CEO evaluates the other executive officers’, including the other NEOs’, achievement of their prior year’s individual performance goals, and makes recommendations for total percentage achievement level. The Compensation Committee considers our CEO’s recommendations, and independently reviews and approves the total percentage achievement level for each of the other executive officers, including our other NEOs.

Target Annual Bonuses

At the time of hire, the target annual bonus is determined for each of our executive officers, including our NEOs, and at the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves the target annual bonus for each such individual. The Compensation Committee considers the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program—Compensation-Setting Factors” above, with an emphasis on market data from our compensation peer group for comparable positions. Target annual bonuses are the same for executive officers, including our NEOs, who are at the same level, and represent a specific percentage of annual base salary.

Annual Cash Bonus Formula

The Compensation Committee uses the following formula to calculate annual cash bonuses for each of our executive officers, including our NEOs:

2018 Corporate Performance Goals

In January 2018, the Compensation Committee approved our 2018 annual corporate performance goals and weightings as set forth below.

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2018 Target Annual Bonus

In January 2018, the Compensation Committee reviewed the target annual bonuses of our executive officers, including our NEOs. The Compensation Committee considered the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program—Compensation-Setting Factors” above, particularly market data from the companies in our compensation peer group, and approved the 2018 target annual bonuses of our NEOs, except Mr. Johnson, below.

In March 2018, we hired Mr. Johnson as our Chief Commercial Officer. The Compensation Committee considered the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program-Compensation Setting Factors” above, particularly market data from our compensation peer group for comparable positions and alignment with our other executive officers at the same level, in approving Mr. Johnson’s 2018 target annual bonus of 40%.

2018 Annual Cash Bonuses

In January 2019, the Compensation Committee evaluated our achievement of the 2018 corporate performance goals. The Compensation Committee considered whether we had achieved each goal, the weighting established for each goal, including the weighting for overachievement, management’s self-assessment, and our overall corporate performance in 2018. Based on these considerations, the Compensation Committee approved a 120% achievement level of the 2018 corporate performance goals because we: overachieved our “Voxelotor” and our “Corporate” goals, and thus achieved the overachievement percentage assigned to these goals; achieved our “Medical Affairs” goals, and thus achieved the 15% assigned for these goals; and did not achieve our “Research” goal, and thus achieved 0% for this goal.

In evaluating our overachievement of the “Voxelotor” and “Corporate” goals and our overall corporate performance in 2018, the Compensation Committee considered our success in positioning the Company and voxelotor for potential regulatory approval and commercial launch. In particular, the Compensation Committee highlighted:

The Compensation Committee also reviewed the 2018 individual performance of each of our executive officers, other than our CEO, based on an evaluation conducted by our CEO of their performance against their 2018 individual performance goals. The Compensation Committee approved an achievement level between 100% and 110% of the 2018 individual performance goals for each of our NEOs.

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The table below sets forth the target annual cash bonuses, the relative weighting of corporate and individual performance, the actual achievement level for corporate and individual performance and the 2018 annual cash bonuses earned by our NEOs.

The annual cash bonus earned by our NEOs for 2018 are set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” below.

2018 Signing Bonus

In March 2018, we hired Mr. Johnson as our Chief Commercial Officer. By accepting this position, Mr. Johnson’s annual base salary and annual target bonus percentage were reduced as compared to his annual base salary and annual target bonus percentage in his former position. To mitigate the impact of these reductions, the Compensation Committee determined that a signing bonus was reasonable and appropriate and approved a one-time signing bonus to Mr. Johnson of $75,000. If Mr. Johnson voluntarily terminated his employment with us within one year of receiving the signing bonus, he was obligated to repay us the gross amount of the signing bonus.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

We view long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity awards as an important element of our executive compensation program. The value of equity awards is directly related to stock price appreciation over time, which incentivizes our executive officers to achieve long-term corporate goals and create long-term value for our stockholders. Equity awards also help us attract and retain top-performing executive officers in a competitive market.

At the time of hire, equity awards are granted to our executive officers, including our NEOs, based on the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program—Compensation-Setting Factors” above. Typically, at the beginning of each year, the Compensation Committee reviews the equity awards for our executive officers, including our NEOs, and determines the size and relative weighting of the annual equity awards it deems reasonable and appropriate based on such factors. The size and relative weighting is the same for each of our executive officers, including our NEOs, who are at the same level. In addition, the Compensation Committee may deem it advisable to grant subsequent equity awards to our executive officers, including our NEOs, and may adjust their equity awards in the event of a promotion or significant change in responsibilities.

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2018 Equity Awards

2018 Annual Equity Awards

In January 2018, the Compensation Committee considered the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program—Compensation-Setting Factors” above, particularly market data from the companies in our compensation peer group, and approved the 2018 annual equity awards for our NEOs, except Mr. Johnson, below.

The stock options vest, and become exercisable, over a four-year period, with 1/16^th of the underlying shares vesting on a quarterly basis (every three months) after the vesting commencement date of February 1, 2018, so that all of the underlying shares will be vested on the date four years after the vesting commencement date, so long as the NEO remains an employee or other service provider (including a consultant) of the Company on such vesting dates.

The time-based RSUs vest over a four-year period, with 1/8^th of the underlying shares vesting on a semi-annual basis (every six months) after the vesting commencement date of February 1, 2018, so that all of the underlying shares will be vested on the date four years after the vesting commencement date, so long as the NEO remains an employee or other service provider (including a consultant) of the Company on such vesting dates.

2018 New Hire Equity Awards

In March 2018, we hired Mr. Johnson as our Chief Commercial Officer. The Compensation Committee considered the factors described in “Governance of Executive Compensation Program-Compensation Setting Factors” above, particularly market data from our compensation peer group for comparable positions, in approving Mr. Johnson’s new hire equity awards as follows: a stock option to purchase 55,000 shares of our common stock and 35,000 time-based RSUs.

The stock options vest, and become exercisable, over a four-year period, with 1/4^th of the underlying shares vesting on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date of March 12, 2018, and thereafter, 1/12^th of the remaining underlying shares vest on a quarterly basis so that all of the underlying shares will be vested on the date four years after the vesting commencement date, so long as Mr. Johnson remains an employee or other service provider (including a consultant) of the Company on such vesting dates.

The time-based RSUs vest over a four-year period, with 1/4^th of the underlying shares vesting on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date of April 1, 2018, and thereafter 1/6^th of the remaining underlying shares vest on a semi-annual basis (every six months) so that all of the underlying shares will be vested on the date four years after the vesting commencement date, so long as Mr. Johnson remains an employee or other service provider (including a consultant) of the Company on such vesting dates.

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In 2018, we did not grant any shares of restricted stock or performance-based RSUs. Historically, we have granted restricted stock, and in 2017 we granted performance-based RSUs.

The equity awards granted to our NEOs in 2018 are set forth in the “Summary Compensation Table” and the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year 2018” table below.

Health and Welfare Benefits

Our executive officers, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in the same employee benefit plans that are generally available to all of our employees, subject to the satisfaction of certain eligibility requirements, such as medical, dental, and life and disability insurance plans. We pay, on behalf of our employees, the premiums for health, life and disability insurance.

2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Our executive officers, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in our 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) on the same basis as our other full-time employees.

401(k) Savings Plan

Our U.S. executive officers, including our NEOs, are eligible to participate in a tax-qualified retirement plan (the “401(k) Plan”) on the same basis as our other employees. The 401(k) Plan provides eligible U.S. employees with an opportunity to save for retirement on a tax advantaged basis. Eligible employees are able to defer eligible compensation subject to applicable annual Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) limits. Employees’ pre-tax contributions are allocated to each participant’s individual account and are then invested in selected investment alternatives according to the participants’ directions. Employees are immediately and fully vested in their contributions. Our 401(k) Plan is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code with our 401(k) Plan’s related trust intended to be tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code. As a tax-qualified retirement plan, contributions to our 401(k) Plan and earnings and matching amounts on those contributions are not taxable to the employees until distributed from our 401(k) Plan.

Since December 2015, the Compensation Committee has approved various matching contributions under the 401(k) Plan. Under our current matching policy approved by the Compensation Committee, effective January 1, 2018, we match in cash 100% of an employee’s 401(k) contributions, subject to an annual cap of $5,000 per employee.

Perquisites

We do not provide perquisites to our executive officers, including our NEOs.

Change in Control Policy

We believe that reasonable and competitive change-in-control payments and benefits are an important part of an executive compensation program to attract and retain senior executives. We also believe such payments and benefits are in the best interests of our stockholders because the possibility of a change in control and the related uncertainty may lead to the departure or distraction of senior executives to the detriment of the Company and our stockholders.

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In July 2015, our Board of Directors adopted the Change in Control Policy to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of certain key senior executives in the event of a change in control. The payments and benefits provided under the Change in Control Policy, as amended (the “CIC Policy”), are designed to be competitive in the market. Pursuant to the CIC Policy, in the event the employment of any of our NEOs is terminated by us or our acquirer or successor without Cause or an NEO resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the CIC Policy), in either case, within one year after the consummation of a Sale Event (as defined in the 2015 Plan) he or she will be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits, subject to his or her execution and non-revocation of a severance agreement within 60 days following the date of such termination, including a general release of claims:

As described above, our change-in-control payments and benefits are “double trigger” because the change in control alone does not trigger such payments and benefits. Rather, our change-in-control payments and benefits are triggered only if there is a qualifying termination of an NEO’s employment within one year after the consummation of a Sale Event.

In addition, upon a Sale Event, to the extent Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 280G”), is applicable, each NEO who is then employed with us will be entitled to receive the better treatment of: (i) payment of the full amounts set forth above to which the NEO is entitled or (ii) payment of such lesser amount that does not trigger excise taxes under Section 280G.

Employment Offer Letter Agreements

NEOs

We have entered into a written employment offer letter agreement with each of our NEOs. These agreements set forth the basic terms and conditions of employment, including initial base salary, eligibility to participate in the Cash Incentive Plan, initial equity awards, eligibility to participate in our standard employee benefits plans, the at-will employment relationship and, in Mr. Johnson’s agreement, a one-time, signing bonus. These agreements also require that each NEO execute our standard employee confidentiality and assignment agreement.

Our NEOs are also eligible to receive certain change-in-control payments and benefits in accordance with the CIC Policy as described above.

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CEO

Dr. Love’s written employment offer letter agreement also provides for certain termination payments and benefits not in connection with a change in control. These payments and benefits were designed to be competitive in the market. If Dr. Love’s employment is terminated by us without Cause (as defined in the agreement) not in connection with a change in control, he will be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a severance agreement, including a general release of claims, his resignation from all positions with us and compliance with our instructions regarding Company property:

Equity Award Grant Policy

We have adopted an Equity Award Grant Policy that sets forth the process and timing for us to follow when we grant equity awards for shares of our common stock to our employees, including our executive officers, or advisors or consultants to us pursuant to any of our equity compensation plans. Pursuant to the policy, all grants of equity awards must be approved in advance by our Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee or, subject to the delegation requirements in the policy, our CEO. The equity award granting authority delegated to our CEO applies to employees at the senior vice president level and below and to equity awards within the specific ranges set forth in the policy.

Generally, equity awards are granted on the following regularly scheduled basis as set forth in the policy:

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In addition, the policy sets forth the manner in which our equity awards will be priced. The dollar value of restricted stock and long-term incentive awards will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of our common stock underlying the award by the closing market price on the NASDAQ Global Market of a share of our common stock on the effective date of grant. The exercise price of all stock options will be at least equal to the closing market price on the NASDAQ Global Market of a share of our common stock on the effective date of grant.

Policy Prohibiting Hedging and Pledging

Our Insider Trading Policy prohibits our executive officers, the non-employee members of our Board of Directors and certain designated employees who in the course of the performance of their duties have access to material, nonpublic information regarding the Company from engaging in the following transactions:

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, none of our NEOs had previously sought or obtained approval from the Audit Committee to engage in any hedging or pledging transaction involving our securities.

Tax and Accounting Considerations

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

Generally, Section 162(m) of the Code (“Section 162(m)”) disallows a federal income tax deduction for public corporations of remuneration in excess of $1 million paid in any fiscal year to certain specified executive officers. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018 (i) these executive officers consisted of a public corporation’s chief executive officer and up to three other executive officers (other than the chief financial officer) whose compensation is required to be disclosed to stockholders under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 because they are our most highly-compensated executive officers and (ii) qualifying “performance-based compensation” was not subject to this deduction limit if specified requirements are met.

Pursuant to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which was signed into law on December 22, 2017 (the “Tax Act”), for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the remuneration of a public corporation’s chief financial officer is also subject to the deduction limit. In addition, subject to certain transition rules (which apply to remuneration provided pursuant to written binding contracts which were in effect on November 2, 2017 and which are not subsequently modified in any material respect), for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, the exemption from the deduction limit for “performance-based compensation” is no longer available. Consequently, for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2017, all remuneration in excess of $1 million paid to a specified executive will not be deductible.

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In designing our executive compensation program and determining the compensation of our executive officers, including our NEOs, the Compensation Committee considers a variety of factors, including the potential impact of the Section 162(m) deduction limit. However, the Compensation Committee will not necessarily limit executive compensation to that which is or may be deductible under Section 162(m). The deductibility of some types of compensation depends upon the timing of an executive officer’s vesting or exercise of previously granted rights. Further, interpretations of and changes in the tax laws, and other factors beyond the Compensation Committee’s control also affect the deductibility of compensation. The Compensation Committee will consider various alternatives to preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent consistent with its compensation goals.

To maintain flexibility to compensate our executive officers in a manner designed to promote our short-term and long-term corporate goals, the Compensation Committee has not adopted a policy that all compensation must be deductible. The Compensation Committee believes that our stockholders’ interests are best served if its discretion and flexibility in awarding compensation is not restricted in order to allow such compensation to be consistent with the goals of our executive compensation program, even though some compensation awards may result in non-deductible compensation expense.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

We follow the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (“FASB ASC Topic 718”) for our stock-based compensation awards. FASB ASC Topic 718 requires us to measure the compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to our employees and non-employee members of our Board of Directors, including stock options to purchase shares of our common stock and other stock awards, based on the grant date “fair value” of these awards. This calculation is performed for accounting purposes and reported in the executive compensation tables required by the federal securities laws, even though the recipient of the awards may never realize any value from their awards.

Taxation of “Parachute” Payments

Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code provide that executive officers and directors who hold significant equity interests and certain other service providers may be subject to significant additional taxes if they receive payments or benefits in connection with a change in control of the company that exceeds certain prescribed limits, and that the company (or a successor) may forfeit a deduction on the amounts subject to this additional tax. We have not agreed to provide any executive officer, including any NEO, with a “gross-up” or other reimbursement payment for any tax liability that the executive officer might owe as a result of the application of Sections 280G or 4999 of the Code.

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code

Section 409A of the Code imposes additional significant taxes in the event that an executive officer, director or service provider receives “deferred compensation” that does not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Although we do not maintain a traditional nonqualified deferred compensation plan, Section 409A of the Code does apply to certain severance arrangements, bonus arrangements and equity awards. We structure all our severance arrangements, bonus arrangements and equity awards in a manner to either avoid the application of Section 409A or, to the extent doing so is not possible, to comply with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

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2018 Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding total compensation awarded to, earned by and paid to each of our NEOs during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 to the extent he or she was an NEO in such year.

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year 2018

The following table sets forth the individual awards made to each of our NEOs during 2018. For a description of the types of awards indicated below, please see our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.

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2018 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to outstanding equity awards held by each of our NEOs as of December 31, 2018.