Insider Trading March 18, 2026

Opus Genetics COO Executes $19,525 Stock Sale to Cover RSU Withholding

Transaction coincides with company milestones including positive early trial data, FDA acceptance for a presbyopia filing, and fresh capital from a private placement

By Maya Rios IRD
Opus Genetics COO Executes $19,525 Stock Sale to Cover RSU Withholding
IRD

Opus Genetics Chief Operating Officer Joseph K. Schachle completed an automatic sale of 3,719 shares on March 16, 2026, yielding $19,525 to satisfy tax withholding tied to restricted stock unit vesting. The disposition occurs while Opus Genetics shares trade near a 52-week high amid recent clinical progress and a $25 million capital raise.

Key Points

  • Opus Genetics COO Joseph K. Schachle sold 3,719 shares on March 16, 2026, at $5.2501 per share for total proceeds of $19,525 to cover tax withholding on vested RSUs.
  • The companys stock is trading near its 52-week high of $5.30 after a 332% gain over the past year, while analysts place price targets between $8 and $12.
  • Opus Genetics reported early positive Phase 1/2 data for OPGx-BEST1, received FDA acceptance for a presbyopia application with a decision expected October 17, 2026, raised $25 million in a private placement, and will begin a trial in Abu Dhabi for OPGx-MERTK.

Opus Genetics (NASDAQ: IRD) Chief Operating Officer Joseph K. Schachle disposed of 3,719 shares of the companys common stock on March 16, 2026, at a per-share price of $5.2501, producing proceeds of $19,525. The transaction was implemented automatically to meet tax withholding obligations associated with the vesting of restricted stock units.

Following the sale, Schachle retains direct ownership of 300,781 shares of Opus Genetics common stock. At the time of the transaction, the stock was trading close to its 52-week high of $5.30 and had posted a 332% gain over the preceding 12 months.


Valuation context and analyst signals

Independent platform analysis notes that the shares may be modestly overvalued at present, with analysts providing price targets that range from $8 to $12. The same platform also indicates there are 13 additional ProTips and expanded financial metrics available through its service for investors seeking deeper context.


Recent corporate developments

Opus Genetics announced encouraging early clinical data from its Phase 1/2 study of OPGx-BEST1 for BEST1-related retinal diseases. According to the companys release, the first participant experienced no ocular inflammation and no treatment-related adverse events, a result characterized as early positive data in the trial.

Separately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted Opus Genetics application for a presbyopia treatment, with an anticipated review decision date of October 17, 2026. The company emphasized the significance of this filing given the large population of adults over 45 who are affected by presbyopia.

On the financing front, Opus Genetics completed a private placement offering of Series B Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock and raised $25 million in proceeds. The placement was led by Adage Capital Management, and the company stated that the capital will support ongoing and future programs.

Opus Genetics also said it will initiate a clinical trial in Abu Dhabi for OPGx-MERTK, a gene therapy candidate targeting MERTK-related retinitis pigmentosa. The company framed this move as a continued effort to advance treatments for rare inherited retinal disorders.


Analyst coverage

Craig-Hallum has reiterated a Buy rating on Opus Genetics, assigning a $9.00 price objective. The firm cited the companys progressing gene therapy programs in its rationale for the maintained recommendation.


What the filing details show

The insider sale by Schachle was not presented as an open-market discretionary sale but rather as an automatic transaction executed to satisfy tax withholding tied to RSU vesting. The companys share price, recent trial milestones, the FDA filing acceptance, fresh capital from a private placement, and ongoing trial plans in Abu Dhabi are among the contemporaneous items an investor may consider when evaluating Opus Genetics position and outlook.

While the sale reduced Schachles direct holdings by 3,719 shares, he continues to hold more than 300,000 shares following the transaction.

Risks

  • The insider sale was an automatic withholding transaction tied to RSU vesting, which limits insight into voluntary insider sentiment - this impacts investor interpretation in the biotech and capital markets sectors.
  • Analyst price targets range from $8 to $12 while platform analysis labels the stock as slightly overvalued at current prices, introducing valuation uncertainty for equity investors.
  • Clinical programs remain at various stages; early positive data are limited to the first participant in the Phase 1/2 OPGx-BEST1 trial, and future trial outcomes could affect the companys progress in the biotech and healthcare sectors.

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