Form PRE 14A Tricida, Inc. For: Jun 10

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders of Tricida, Inc., a Delaware corporation, will be held on June 10, 2021, at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time in a virtual meeting format only at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TCDA2021.

During the annual meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider the following matters, as more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice:

Stockholders of record at the close of business on April 14, 2021 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting.

You may cast your vote over the Internet, by telephone, or by completing and mailing a proxy card. Returning the proxy does not deprive you of your right to attend the annual meeting and to vote your shares in person. Proxies forwarded by or for banks, brokers or other nominees should be returned as requested by them. We encourage you to vote promptly to ensure your vote is represented at the annual meeting, regardless of whether you plan to attend.

You can find detailed information regarding voting in the section entitled “General Information” on pages 1 through 4 of the accompanying proxy statement.

This proxy statement is furnished to stockholders of Tricida, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders to be held on June 10, 2021, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The annual meeting will be held at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time in a virtual meeting format only at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TCDA2021.

As permitted by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, we are making this proxy statement and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 available to our stockholders electronically via the Internet at www.proxyvote.com. You will be asked to enter the 16-digit control number located on your proxy card or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (“Internet Notice”). On or about April [•], 2021, we mailed to our stockholders the Internet Notice, containing instructions on how to access this proxy statement and vote online or by telephone. If you received an Internet Notice by mail, you will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail unless you specifically request them pursuant to the instructions provided in the Internet Notice. The Internet Notice instructs you on how to access and review all of the important information contained in this proxy statement.

Please note that references to our website herein do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at or available through our website.

We are distributing our proxy materials because our board of directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the annual meeting. This proxy statement summarizes the information you need to vote at the annual meeting. You do not need to attend the annual meeting to vote your shares.

Pursuant to SEC rules, we are providing access to our proxy materials via the Internet. Accordingly, we are sending an Internet Notice to all of our stockholders as of the record date. All stockholders may access our proxy materials on the website referred to in the Internet Notice. You may also request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. You can find instructions regarding how to access our proxy materials via the Internet and how to request a printed copy in the Internet Notice. Additionally, by following the instructions in the Internet Notice, you may request to receive proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email on an ongoing basis. We believe that these rules allow us to provide our stockholders with the information they need while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the annual meeting.

The proposals to be voted on at the annual meeting and the board of directors recommendation on each proposal is set forth below:

We will also consider other business, if any, that properly comes before the annual meeting.

The record date for the annual meeting is the close of business on April 14, 2021. As of the record date, [•] shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, were outstanding. Only holders of record of our common stock as of the record date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of our common stock held by such stockholder on the record date.

Admittance is limited to stockholders of the Company. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TCDA2021. Such questions must be confined to matters properly before the Annual Meeting and of general company concern. You will also be able to vote your shares electronically at the Annual Meeting. To participate, you will need your 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials, on your proxy card, or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time. Online access will open at 7:15 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, and you should allow ample time to log in to the meeting webcast and test your computer audio system. We recommend that you carefully review the procedures needed to gain admission in advance.

We will have technicians ready to assist you with any technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual meeting. If you encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during check-in or during the meeting, please call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual stockholder meeting login page www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/TCDA2021.

If you are a holder of record of shares of our common stock, you may direct your vote without attending the annual meeting by following the instructions on the Internet Notice or proxy card to vote by Internet or by telephone, or by signing, dating and mailing a proxy card.

If you hold your shares in street name via a broker, bank or other nominee, you may direct your vote without attending the annual meeting by signing, dating and mailing your voting instruction card. Internet or telephonic voting may also be available. Please see your voting instruction card provided by your broker, bank or other nominee for further details.

You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the annual meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote or revoke your proxy by:

Attendance at the annual meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy.

If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other nominee, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee. Please note that if your shares are

held of record by a bank, broker or other nominee, and you decide to attend and vote at the annual meeting, your vote at the annual meeting will not be effective unless you present a legal proxy, issued in your name from the record holder (your bank, broker or other nominee).

Brokers, banks or other nominees holding shares on behalf of a beneficial owner may vote those shares in their discretion on certain “routine” matters even if they do not receive timely voting instructions from the beneficial owner. With respect to “non-routine” matters, the broker, bank or other nominee is not permitted to vote shares for a beneficial owner without timely received voting instructions. The only routine matter to be presented at the annual meeting is the proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 (Proposal Three). The remaining proposals to be considered (Proposals One, Two and Four) are considered non-routine matters.

A broker non-vote occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee does not vote on a non-routine matter because the beneficial owner of such shares has not provided voting instructions with regard to such matter. If a broker, bank or other nominee exercise their discretionary voting authority on Proposal Three, such shares will be considered present at the annual meeting for quorum purposes and broker non-votes will occur as to Proposal One, Proposal Two and Proposal Four, or any other non-routine matters that are properly presented at the annual meeting. Broker non-votes will have no impact on the voting results.

The presence at the annual meeting, either in person or by proxy, of holders of a majority of the aggregate number of shares of our issued and outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereat as of the record date shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the annual meeting.

Election of Directors (Proposal One). Our bylaws provide for a plurality voting standard for the election of directors. The three directors receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes will be elected as Class III directors. An abstention or a broker non-vote on Proposal One will not have any effect on the election of directors.

Non-Binding Advisory Vote Approving the Company’s Executive Compensation (Proposal Two). The vote for Proposal Two will be decided by the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. An abstention on Proposal Two will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” Proposal Two. A broker non-vote on Proposal Two will not have any effect on the voting results for Proposal Two. This is an advisory vote and is not binding on our board of directors. However, our compensation committee and our board of directors expect to take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future decisions regarding executive compensation.

Ratification of the Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2021 (Proposal Three). The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required for the approval of Proposal Three. An abstention on Proposal Three will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” Proposal Three. Brokers will have discretionary authority to vote on this proposal. Accordingly, there will not be any broker non-votes on Proposal Three.

Approval of Stock Option Exchange Program (Proposal Four). The affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the annual meeting is required for the approval of Proposal Four. An abstention on Proposal Four will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” Proposal Four. A broker non-vote on Proposal Four will not have any effect on the voting results for Proposal Four.

To ensure that proxies are received in time to be counted prior to the annual meeting, proxies submitted by Internet or by telephone should be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the day before the annual meeting, and proxies submitted by mail should be received by the close of business on the day prior to the date of the annual meeting.

If you hold your shares in more than one account, you will receive an Internet Notice or proxy card for each account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please complete, sign, date and return a proxy card for each account or use the Internet Notice or proxy card for each account to vote by Internet or by telephone. To ensure that all of your shares are represented at the annual meeting, we recommend that you vote every Internet Notice or proxy card that you receive.

If you are a holder of record of shares of our common stock and you sign and return a proxy card or otherwise submit a proxy without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the Board’s recommendations.

If you hold your shares in street name via a broker, bank or other nominee and do not provide the broker, bank or other nominee with voting instructions (including by signing and returning a blank voting instruction card), your shares:

Our board of directors knows of no matter to be presented at the annual meeting other than the proposals described in this proxy statement. If any other matters properly come before the annual meeting upon which a vote properly may be taken, shares represented by all proxies received by us will be voted with respect thereto as permitted and in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holders.

This proxy solicitation is being made on behalf of our board of directors. All expenses of the solicitation, including the cost of preparing and mailing the Internet Notice or this proxy statement, will be borne by the Company.

In accordance with Delaware law, a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting will be available on the annual meeting website and, for 10 days prior to the annual meeting, at Tricida, Inc., 7000 Shoreline Court, Suite 201, South San Francisco, CA 94080 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

We have adopted a procedure approved by the SEC, called “householding.” Under this procedure, we send only one proxy statement and one annual report to eligible stockholders who share a single address, unless we have received instructions to the contrary from any stockholder at that address. This practice is designed to eliminate duplicate mailings, conserve natural resources, and reduce our printing and mailing costs. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.

If you share an address with another stockholder and receive only one set of proxy materials but would like to request a separate copy of these materials, please contact our mailing agent, Broadridge at www.proxyvote.com, by telephone at 1-800-579-1639 or by email at: [email protected]. Similarly, you may also contact Broadridge if you receive multiple copies of the proxy materials and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future. If you own shares through a bank, broker, or other nominee, you should contact the nominee concerning householding procedures.

Our board of directors currently consists of seven directors, which are divided into three classes with staggered, three-year terms. Our bylaws provide that our board of directors will consist of not less than seven (7) and not more than twelve (12) directors. At the annual meeting, our stockholders will elect three Class III directors, whose terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2024. Each of our current directors continues to serve as a director until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Our board of directors nominated each of Ms. Kathryn Falberg, Dr. Gerrit Klaerner and Dr. Klaus Veitinger for election to our board of directors as Class III directors at the annual meeting. All three nominees currently serve on our board of directors and have consented to be named in this proxy statement. Each nominee has agreed to serve as a director, if elected, until the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.

The following table sets forth information with respect to our directors, including the three nominees for election at the annual meeting:

Additional biographical descriptions of the nominees and continuing directors are set forth in the text below. These descriptions include the experience, qualifications, qualities and skills that led to the conclusion that each director should serve as a member of our board of directors at this time.

Ms. Kathryn Falberg has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2018. From March 2012 to March 2014, Ms. Falberg served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. From December 2009 to March 2012, Ms. Falberg held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc. From 2001 through 2009, Ms. Falberg worked with a number of smaller companies while serving as a corporate director and audit committee chair for several companies. From 1995 to 2001, Ms. Falberg served various roles at Amgen Inc., including as Senior Vice President, Finance and Strategy, and Chief Financial Officer, and as Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer,

and as Vice President, Treasurer. Ms. Falberg currently serves on the boards of public companies, including Arcus Biosciences, Inc., Nuvation Bio, Urogen Pharma Ltd., and The Trade Desk, Inc. Ms. Falberg previously served on the boards of directors of Aimmune Therapeutics, Axovant Sciences, Ltd., BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Medivation Inc., Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., aTyr Pharma, Inc., and multiple other companies. Ms. Falberg is an inactive certified public accountant. Ms. Falberg holds an M.B.A. in Finance and B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

We believe Ms. Falberg is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive background in the life science industry and her leadership experience as a senior financial executive, director and audit committee member of various other companies in the life science industry.

Dr. Gerrit Klaerner, Ph.D., our founder, has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2013 and as our Chief Executive Officer and President since August 2013. Dr. Klaerner was a founder of Relypsa, Inc. and served as its President and as a member of its board of directors from October 2007 until June 2013. Dr. Klaerner co-founded Ilypsa, Inc. in 2003 and served as its Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President from December 2006 until July 2007 and its Director of Technology Assessment and Business Development from January 2003 until December 2006. Dr. Klaerner served in Symyx Technologies, Inc. from October 1998 until January 2003 as Staff Scientist, Senior Staff Scientist and Director of Business Development. Dr. Klaerner received his Ph.D. in polymer and organic chemistry from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, his M.S. in Chemistry from the Philipps University of Marburg and completed post-doctoral research at Stanford University and the IBM Almaden Research Center.

We believe that Dr. Klaerner is qualified to serve as our President and Chief Executive Officer and on our board of directors due to his extensive experience in leadership and management roles at various life sciences companies.

Dr. Klaus R. Veitinger, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2014 and as our Chairman of the Board since September 2015. Dr. Veitinger has served as a Venture Partner with OrbiMed Advisors LLC, an affiliate of one of our principal stockholders, since October 2007. Prior to OrbiMed Advisors, Dr. Veitinger was a Member of the Executive Board of Schwarz Pharma AG and the Chief Executive Officer of Schwarz Pharma, Inc. with responsibility for the U.S. and Asia businesses. Dr. Veitinger has served on the boards of public companies, including Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from August 2012 until July 2016 and Relypsa, Inc. from October 2010 until June 2015, and currently serves on the board of scPharmaceuticals, Inc. since November 2017. Dr. Veitinger currently serves on the boards of directors of the following private companies: Neurogastrx, Inc. and Promentis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. For seven years he was a Director of PhRMA. Dr. Veitinger received his M.D. and his Ph.D. from the University of Heidelberg. He earned his M.B.A. at INSEAD in France.

We believe that Dr. Veitinger is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his management and investment experience in the life sciences sector and medical and scientific background.

Dr. Sandra I. Coufal, M.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2013 and as a member of our Scientific Advisory Board since August 2013. Dr. Coufal is a co-founder and has served as a co-manager of Sibling Capital Ventures LLC, an affiliate of one of our principal stockholders, since 2013. Dr. Coufal was a co-founder and a co-manager of Sibling Capital, LLC from 2012 to 2016. For the past 19 years, Dr. Coufal has been the Biomedical Advisor for the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation. Dr. Coufal served as the Head of the Division of Internal Medicine at the Torrey Pines site of Scripps Clinic from 1997 until 1999, and was a member of the board of directors of Scripps Green Hospital from 1997 until 1999. Dr. Coufal founded and served on Relypsa, Inc.’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2007 and was a co-founder of Ilypsa’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Coufal has served on the boards of directors of BioAesthetics Corporation and SafetySpot Inc. since February 2016 and March 2017, respectively. On a volunteer basis, Dr. Coufal has served on the Advisory Board of the New Orleans BioFund since 2017. She has also served in a volunteer capacity on the Advisory Board of The Vision of Children Foundation since 2017. Dr. Coufal has been a Member of the Advisory Board of the Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund since 2015, serving as its Advisory Chair from 2016-2018. Dr. Coufal served as Associate Faculty in the Division of Internal Medicine for the University of California, San Diego, unsalaried. She completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. Dr. Coufal received her

M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas and received her B.S. in Science Preprofessional Studies from the University of Notre Dame and was designated a Notre Dame Scholar.

We believe that Dr. Coufal is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her experience as an investor in the life sciences industry and her extensive experience as a practicing physician.

Dr. David Hirsch, M.D., Ph.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2016. Since 2007, Dr. Hirsch has served as a Founder and Managing Director at Longitude Capital Management, an affiliate of one of our principal stockholders, where he focuses on investments in biotechnology. From 2005 to 2006, Dr. Hirsch was Vice President of Pequot Ventures where he worked in the life sciences practice. Prior to Pequot Ventures, Dr. Hirsch was an Engagement Manager in the pharmaceutical practice of McKinsey & Co. Dr. Hirsch currently serves on the boards of directors of the following public companies: Molecular Templates, Inc., since 2017 and Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. since 2018. Dr. Hirsch also serves on the boards of directors of the following private companies: Amunix Pharmaceuticals and Rapid Micro Biosystems, Inc., and Dr. Hirsch previously served on the boards of directors of Inflazome, Ltd., Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc., Civitas Therapeutics, Inc., Precision Therapeutics, Inc., Velicept Therapeutics, Inc., and Zavante Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Nabriva (NBVA)). Dr. Hirsch received his B.A. in Biology from The Johns Hopkins University, his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

We believe that Dr. Hirsch is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his perspective and experience as an investor and board member in the life sciences industry, as well as his strong medical and scientific background.

Dr. Robert J. Alpern, M.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2013 and as chairman of our Scientific Advisory Board from October 2013 through May 2018. Dr. Alpern has served as Ensign Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) and Cellular and Molecular Physiology and as Professor of Internal Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Physiology since February 2020. Dr. Alpern previously served as the Ensign Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) and Professor of Internal Medicine at Yale University and as Dean of Yale School of Medicine from June 2004 until January 2020. He served as a Member of the Scientific Advisory Board at Relypsa, Inc. from 2007 until 2014 and Ilypsa, Inc. from 2004 until 2007. From July 1998 until May 2004, Dr. Alpern was the Dean of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Alpern has served as a director of AbbVie Inc. since January 2013, Abbott Laboratories since October 2008 and served on the board of trustees of Yale-New Haven Hospital from October 2005 until January 2020. Dr. Alpern was on the leadership committee of the American Society of Nephrology and served as its president. Dr. Alpern has held or been awarded field-specific journal editorial board and fellowship positions, leadership positions in advisory councils and associations, and teaching awards. Dr. Alpern received his M.D. from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and his B.A. in Chemistry from Northwestern University.

We believe that Dr. Alpern is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive background in medicine and his experience as a board member in the life sciences industry.

Dr. David Bonita, M.D., has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2014. Dr. Bonita is a member of OrbiMed Advisors LLC, an investment firm. Dr. Bonita currently serves on the boards of directors of Acutus Medical Inc., IMARA Inc., Prelude Therapeutics, Inc., and Repare Therapeutics Inc., as well as several private companies. Dr. Bonita also previously served on the boards of directors of Clementia Pharmaceuticals Inc., Loxo Oncology, Inc., SI-BONE, Inc., and ViewRay Inc. Prior to OrbiMed, Dr. Bonita worked as a corporate finance analyst in the healthcare investment banking groups of Morgan Stanley and UBS. He has published scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals based on signal transduction research performed at Harvard Medical School. He received his B.A. in biology from Harvard University and his joint M.D./M.B.A. from Columbia University

We believe that Dr. Bonita is qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his roles on several public and private boards of directors as well as his extensive experience in investing in healthcare companies.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE THREE CLASS III BOARD NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE.

Nasdaq rules require that independent directors comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors. In addition, Nasdaq rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and corporate governance and nominating committees be independent. Our board of directors has determined that Dr. Klaus Veitinger, Dr. Robert Alpern, Dr. David Bonita, Dr. Sandra Coufal, Ms. Kathryn Falberg and Dr. David Hirsch qualify as “independent” directors in accordance with the Nasdaq listing requirements. Dr. Gerrit Klaerner is not independent due to his role as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. The Nasdaq independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as required by Nasdaq rules, our board of directors has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exist, which, in the opinion of our board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our board of directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Our amended and restated bylaws and corporate governance guidelines provide our board of directors with flexibility to combine or separate the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and/or the implementation of a lead director in accordance with its determination that utilizing one or the other structure would be in the best interests of our Company. Dr. Klaus Veitinger currently serves as our Chairman of the Board.

As a general policy, our board of directors believes that separation of the positions of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer reinforces the independence of our board of directors from management, creates an environment that encourages objective oversight of management’s performance and enhances the effectiveness of our board of directors as a whole. As such, Dr. Gerrit Klaerner serves as our Chief Executive Officer and President while Dr. Klaus Veitinger serves as our Chairman of the Board but is not an officer of our Company. Our board of directors has concluded that our current leadership structure is appropriate at this time. However, our board of directors continues to periodically review our leadership structure and may make such changes in the future as it deems appropriate.

Our board of directors takes an enterprise-wide approach to risk management that seeks to complement our organizational objectives, strategic objectives, long-term organizational performance and the overall enhancement of stockholder value. Our board of directors assesses and considers the risks we face on an ongoing basis, including risks that are associated with our financial position, our competitive position and the impact of our operations on our cost structure. In addition, our board of directors reviews and assesses information regarding cybersecurity risks with management, including regular cybersecurity updates on cyber-attacks; Company-wide cyber awareness training targeting 12 training modules annually and internal phish testing, the results of which are generally reported to the audit committee; and an annual cybersecurity audit including internal and external penetration testing performed by a third party in the fourth quarter of each year. Our board of directors’ approach to risk management includes understanding the risks we face, analyzing them with the latest information available and determining the steps that should be taken to manage those risks, with a view toward the appropriate level of risk for a company of our size and financial condition.

Certain committees of our board of directors actively manage risk within their given purview and authority. Our audit committee has the responsibility for overseeing our major financial, legal, and regulatory risk exposures, which span a variety of areas including litigation, regulatory compliance, reputational and policy matters, financial reporting and cybersecurity. Our audit committee also oversees the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including policies and procedures for assessing and managing risk and related compliance efforts. Our compensation committee evaluates risks arising from compensation policies

and practices. Our nominating and corporate governance committee evaluates risks arising from our corporate governance practices. Each of our committees provides reports to the full board of directors regarding these and other matters.

The board of directors evaluates its performance and the performance of its committees and individual directors on an annual basis through an evaluation process administered by the nominating and corporate governance committee. The board of directors discusses each evaluation to determine what, if any, actions should be taken to improve the effectiveness of the board of directors or any committee thereof or of the directors.

Our board of directors held 9 meetings during the year ended December 31, 2020. During 2020, each person currently serving as a director attended at least 80% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the board of directors and each committee of which he or she was a member. Each director is also encouraged and expected to attend the Company’s annual meeting. All of our directors attended the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

Our board of directors has established three standing committees: audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. Each committee operates pursuant to a written charter that has been approved by our board of directors. A copy of the current charter for each of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee is available on our website at www.tricida.com by selecting the “Investors” link and then the “Governance” link. The audit committee met 4 times in 2020, the compensation committee met 5 times in 2020 and the nominating and corporate governance committee met once in 2020.

Our board of directors has an audit committee and our board of directors has adopted an audit committee charter, which defines the audit committee’s principal functions, including oversight related to:

All members of our audit committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq. Our board of directors has determined that Ms. Falberg is an audit committee financial expert as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and has the requisite financial sophistication as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq. Under the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq, members of the audit committee must also meet heightened independence standards. Our board of directors has determined that each of Dr. Bonita, Dr. Hirsch and Ms. Falberg are independent under these heightened audit committee independence standards. The audit committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and Nasdaq.

Our board of directors has a compensation committee and our board of directors has adopted a compensation committee charter, which defines the compensation committee’s principal functions, including recommending policies relating to compensation and benefits of our directors, officers and employees. Among other matters, the compensation committee reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, evaluate the performance of our Chief Executive Officer in light of those goals and objectives and approves the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluations. The compensation committee also recommends to our board of directors the issuance of stock options and other awards under our stock plans. Each of the members of our compensation committee has been determined to be independent under the applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq, after considering the additional factors relevant to the independence of compensation committee members under the applicable standards of the SEC and Nasdaq, and is a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The compensation committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and Nasdaq. The compensation committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees consisting of one or more members when it deems appropriate.

Our board of directors has a nominating and corporate governance committee and our board of directors has adopted a nominating and corporate governance committee charter. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for making recommendations to our board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of our board of directors and any of its committees. Among other matters, the nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for developing and monitoring compliance with our corporate governance guidelines and reporting and making recommendations to our board of directors concerning governance matters. The nominating and corporate governance committee oversees the annual board evaluation process. Each of the members of our nominating and corporate governance committee is an independent director under the applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq relating to nominating and corporate governance committee independence. The nominating and corporate governance committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and Nasdaq.

In the process of identifying, screening and recommending director candidates to the full board of directors, the nominating and corporate governance committee takes into consideration the needs of the board of directors

and the qualifications of the candidates, such as general understanding of various business disciplines (e.g., marketing, finance, etc.), the Company’s business environment, educational and professional background, analytical ability, independence, diversity of experience and viewpoints, and willingness to devote adequate time to board of directors duties. The board of directors evaluates each individual in the context of the board of directors as a whole with the objective of retaining a group that is best equipped to help ensure that the long-term interests of the stockholders are served. While the Company does not have a formal policy on diversity for members of the board of directors, the nominating and corporate governance committee values the need for diversity of director skills and viewpoints when considering new candidates. The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider director candidates recommended by stockholders on the same basis that it evaluates other nominees for director.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, none of the members of our compensation committee has, at any time, been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other board of directors committee performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of any entity that has one or more executive officers on our board of directors or compensation committee.

The board of directors has adopted our Corporate Governance Guidelines which provide the framework for our corporate governance along with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws, committee charters and other key governance practices and policies. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines cover a wide range of subjects, including the conduct of board meetings, independence and selection of directors, board membership criteria, and board committee composition. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at www.tricida.com by selecting the “Investors” link and then the “Governance” link.

The board of directors has adopted our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at www.tricida.com by selecting the “Investors” link and then the “Governance” link. Any amendments to the code, or any waivers of its requirements, will be disclosed on our website.

The board of directors believes that an ownership stake in the Company strengthens the alignment of interests between directors and stockholders. Accordingly, each director is required to own common stock (or equivalents) having a value of at least three times the annual retainer fee, within three years of becoming a director. In the event the annual retainer fee is increased, directors will have one year to meet the new ownership guidelines. The board of directors will evaluate whether exceptions should be made for any director on whom these guidelines would impose a financial hardship. All of the directors currently comply with these guidelines.

The Company has a policy that prohibits officers, directors and employees from engaging in hedging transactions, such as the purchase or sale of puts or calls, or the use of any other derivative instruments. Officers, directors and employees of the Company are also prohibited from holding Company securities in a margin account or pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan.

Any stockholder or other interested party who wishes to communicate with our board of directors or any individual director may send written communications to our board of directors or such director c/o Corporate Secretary, Tricida, Inc., 7000 Shoreline Court, Suite 201, South San Francisco, CA 94080. The communication

must include the stockholder’s name, address and an indication that the person is our stockholder. The Corporate Secretary will review any communications received from stockholders and will forward such communications to the appropriate director or directors, or committee of our board of directors, based on the subject matter.

Pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, executive officers, directors, and holders of more than 10% of the Company’s common stock are required to file reports of their trading in Company equity securities with the SEC. Based solely on a review of the copies of such reports received by the Company, or written representations from certain reporting persons, the Company believes that all filings required to be made by its reporting persons complied with all applicable Section 16 filing requirements during the last fiscal year with one exception: a Form 4 reporting a December 11, 2020 acquisition of common stock by Robert McKague was filed on December 23, 2020.

Our audit committee is responsible for reviewing and approving, prior to our entry into any such transaction, all related person transactions. In addition, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires that our officers and employees avoid taking for themselves personally opportunities that are discovered through the use of our property, information or position or use of our property, information or position for personal gain.

A related person transaction includes transactions in which:

A related person transaction does not include the compensation arrangements with our directors and executive officers that are described elsewhere in this proxy statement. There have not been any related person transactions since January 1, 2020.

The following report of the compensation committee shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or to otherwise be considered “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.

Our compensation committee has reviewed and discussed the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” with our management. Based upon this review and discussion, the compensation committee recommended to the board of directors that the section entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this proxy statement and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Respectfully submitted by the compensation committee of the board of directors.

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to risks associated with our compensation programs. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on current expectation and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason.

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis provides an overview of our executive compensation program for 2020 and our executive compensation philosophies and objectives.

Our named executive officers consist of our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer, our three other most highly compensated executive officers serving in such roles as of December 31, 2020 and one former executive officer of the Company who separated from the Company during 2020 (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”). For 2020, our Named Executive Officers were:

Our current executive compensation program is intended to align executive compensation with our business objectives and to enable us to attract, retain and reward executive officers who contribute to our long-term success. We seek to accomplish this goal in a way that is aligned with the long-term interests of our stockholders. Our strategy has been to design the Company’s compensation programs to drive alignment of all

employees, including our Named Executive Officers. We believe that this approach recognizes that, as a Company, we are all one team with one mission. We believe our executive compensation program effectively aligns the interests of our Named Executive Officers with our objective of creating sustainable long-term value for our stockholders.

During 2020, our strategic priorities were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the FDA’s decision to issue a Complete Response Letter, or CRL, for the New Drug Application, or NDA, for our sole drug product candidate, veverimer, which resulted in a delay in expected approval and commercialization. As such, we were unable to fully execute on our strategic priorities. However, we believe that we have made significant progress on several fronts. Highlights from 2020 include:

Due to the delay in regulatory approval and commercialization of veverimer, on September 10, 2020, the compensation committee of the board of directors, or Committee, approved the Tricida, Inc. 2020 Reduction in Force Severance Benefit Plan, or 2020 Restructuring Plan. On September 18, 2020, the Company implemented a restructuring under the 2020 Restructuring Plan to streamline the organization and preserve capital that included the elimination of approximately 21.5% of the Company's workforce and other cost reductions. Following the completion of the Company’s End-of-Review Type A meeting with the FDA, on October 25, 2020, the Company's Board of Directors approved and on October 28, 2020, the Company implemented a restructuring under the 2020 Restructuring Plan, or Fourth Quarter 2020 Restructuring, to reduce operating costs and better align its workforce with the needs of its business. Under the Fourth Quarter 2020 Restructuring, the Company reduced its workforce by approximately 60.0% and achieved other cost reductions.

The compensation paid or awarded to our executive officers is generally based on the assessment of each individual’s performance compared against the business objectives established for the fiscal year as well as our historical compensation practices. In the case of new hire executive officers, their compensation is primarily determined based on the negotiations of the parties as well as our historical compensation practices. In setting compensation, the Committee also considers the competitive market, as discussed further below, and seeks to recognize and reward high performers through meaningful merit adjustments and bonus and equity incentive opportunities. As in prior years, for 2020, the material elements of our executive compensation program were base salary, a cash incentive opportunity and equity-based compensation in the form of stock options. In addition, in September 2020, the Committee approved a retention program in order to motivate employees and to minimize employee departures during the critical 2020 - 2021 time period for achieving resubmission and approval of the Company’s NDA for veverimer and commercial launch. Each continuing employee of the

Company, including the Named Executive Officers, participated in the retention program. The retention program applicable to the Named Executive Officers was delivered in the form of performance-based stock options, performance-based cash awards and time-based restricted stock units, or RSUs.

The Committee reviews on an ongoing basis the Company’s executive compensation program to evaluate whether it supports the Company’s executive compensation objectives and is aligned with stockholder interests. Our executive compensation practices include the following, each of which the Committee believes reinforces our executive compensation objectives:

The Company received approximately 99.7% support for its “say on pay” vote at the Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. After considering these results, the Committee determined that the Company’s executive compensation philosophy, compensation objectives, and compensation elements continued to be appropriate and did not make any specific changes to the Company’s executive compensation program in response to the 2020 “say on pay” vote.

Base salaries are intended to provide a level of compensation sufficient to attract and retain an effective management team, when considered in combination with the other components of our executive compensation program. The relative levels of base salary for our Named Executive Officers are designed to reflect each executive officer’s scope of responsibility and accountability with us. In 2020, the Committee adjusted annual base salary levels based on a review of market data and individual performance. Mr. McKague’s base salary was determined when he joined the Company based on a review of market data as well as the Company’s historical compensation practices.

The table below sets forth the 2019 and 2020 base salary level for each of our Named Executive Officers:

During 2020, we provided our senior leadership team with short-term incentive compensation through our cash bonus plan, the Tricida, Inc. Annual Incentive Plan, or the AIP. Cash incentives hold executives accountable, rewards the executives based on actual business results and helps create a “pay for performance” culture. Our AIP provides cash incentive award opportunities for the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee at the beginning of the fiscal year. Payouts to participants vary based on performance as compared to the target performance goals established by the Committee. The Committee also retains discretion to reduce payouts for any factors it deems appropriate.

The table below sets forth the 2019 and 2020 target bonus opportunities for each of our Named Executive Officers under the AIP:

The Committee undertakes a rigorous review and analysis to establish performance goals under the AIP. For each Named Executive Officer other than Dr. Klaerner, 50% of his or her 2020 AIP target was based on a qualitative assessment of individual performance and 50% was based on Company-wide performance goals relating to (i) regulatory developments, (ii) commercial operations, (iii) clinical activities, (iv) technical operations and (v) financial activities. Dr. Klaerner’s entire 2020 AIP target was based on Company-wide performance goals. For 2020, the Committee established the following performance goals and weightings under the AIP with respect to the Company-wide performance goals. The performance goals were designed to be achievable, but required the coordinated, cross-functional focus and effort of the executives.

As previously disclosed, in August 2020, the Company received a CRL from the FDA related to the Company’s NDA for veverimer. The resulting delay in regulatory approval also impacted the goals associated with commercialization and profitability. The timeline for completion of enrollment of the ongoing VALOR-CKD trial was extended beyond the end of 2020. Accordingly, management recommended and the Committee determined that 2020 AIP would not fund and, accordingly, none of our Named Executive Officers received a payout under the 2020 AIP.

To further align the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders and to further focus our executive officers on our long-term performance, we have historically granted equity compensation in the form of stock options. The 2020 equity grants were determined based on individual performance, input of the

Committee’s independent compensation consultant, and the Committee’s review of the public company market data described below, with the general goal of aligning equity compensation with the 75th percentile of the market data. Mr. McKague’s grant also consisted of a new hire grant, with the value determined based on the Company’s historical compensation practices as well as relevant market data. In early 2020, the Committee awarded Dr. Klaerner, Mr. Parker, Dr. Parsell, Mr. McKague, Dr. Stahl and Dr. Cantrell stock options to purchase 292,000, 130,000, 130,000, 210,000, 40,000 and 100,000 shares of our common stock, respectively. The 2020 stock option grants generally vest 25% on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and in subsequent 1/36th increments for each subsequent month of continuous employment.

In September 2020, the Committee approved performance-based retention awards to the Company’s employees, including each of the then-serving Named Executive Officers, which were intended to retain and incent the executive officers and further align their interests with the interests of our stockholders. Specifically, these retention awards were granted to motivate employees and to minimize employee departures during the critical 2020 - 2021 time period for achieving approval of the Company’s NDA for veverimer and commercial launch. The retention awards program was designed to reward employee performance and achievement based on the attainment of the following corporate objectives which were deemed critical to the Company’s success:

The retention award amounts, which consisted of cash and equity components, were determined after consultation with Compensia. The retention awards granted to the Company’s Named Executive Officers consisted of (i) stock options, which were equal to one-half the annual stock award value, vest 25% upon an NDA resubmission, 50% upon an NDA approval and 25% upon a commercial launch, in each case, that occurs by December 31, 2022 (the “Retention Stock Options”); (ii) RSUs, which were calculated as a percentage of the then-current 2020 annual base salary, will fully vest on December 31, 2021, subject to the executive’s continued employment through the vesting date (the “Retention RSUs”); and (iii) cash retention awards (the “Cash Retention Awards”), which were calculated as a percentage of the then-current 2020 annual base salary, will vest in four equal installments upon the occurrence of each of the corporate objectives described above. An End-of-Review Type A meeting occurred in October 2020 and the first installments of the Cash Retention Awards were accordingly paid in November 2020. In addition, Dr. Klaerner received a grant of 100,000 stock options with vesting subject to NDA approval for veverimer by December 31, 2022.

The table below shows the target number of shares subject to the Retention Stock Options and Retention RSUs and the target amount of the Cash Retention Awards for each Named Executive Officer.

During 2020, the Named Executive Officers were each participants in the Tricida, Inc. Executive Severance Benefit Plan, as amended, or the Executive Severance Plan, which provides severance benefits upon certain qualifying terminations of employment with the Company. The Committee believes that these severance benefits help secure the continued employment and dedication of our Named Executive Officers and are important as a recruitment and retention device, as many of the companies with which we compete for executive talent have similar arrangements in place for their senior management. The terms of the severance benefits were determined based on a review of market practices and the input of the Committee’s independent compensation consultant and, consistent with market practices, do not include change in control-related tax gross-ups.

In February 2020, the Committee amended the Executive Severance Plan to create a new tier of benefits for employees holding the title of Executive Vice President. As a result of the amendment, the cash severance benefits payable to such employees, expressed as a multiple of a participant’s monthly base salary, were increased based on a review of market data. Following this amendment, the cash severance benefit, expressed as a multiple of monthly base salary, and the number of months of fully-subsidized COBRA continuation coverage, in each case, were increased (i) from nine months to 10 months for a qualifying termination not in connection with a change in control and (ii) from 12 months to 15 months for a qualifying termination in connection with a change in control. The Named Executive Officers, other than the Chief Executive Officer, are under this new tier of benefits.

In connection with her termination of employment in October 2020, Dr. Cantrell was eligible to receive ten months of cash severance benefits and fully subsidized COBRA continuation coverage, as described above. Pursuant to the terms of the applicable award agreements, Dr. Cantrell forfeited all equity awards held by her that were unvested as of her termination date.

See the “2020 Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” section for additional information regarding the employment arrangements with each of our Named Executive Officers, including a quantification of benefits that would have been received by each Named Executive Officer had his or her employment terminated on December 31, 2020 or, in the case of Dr. Cantrell received upon termination of employment.

Our Named Executive Officers participate in our corporate-wide benefit programs. Our Named Executive Officers are offered benefits that generally are commensurate with the benefits provided to all of our full-time employee, which includes participation in our qualified defined contribution plan. We do not provide perquisites that are often provided at other companies to executive officers.

The Committee is responsible for determining the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and each of our other executive officers. In setting the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, the Committee takes into account the nominating and corporate governance committee’s review of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance. In setting the compensation of our other executive officers, the Committee takes into account the Chief Executive Officer’s review of each executive officer’s performance and his recommendations with respect to their compensation. The Committee’s responsibilities regarding executive compensation are further described in the “Corporate Governance” section of this proxy statement.

Compensia is engaged at the sole discretion of the Committee to provide executive compensation consulting services. With respect to 2020, Compensia provided services related to the review of 2020 compensation adjustments, including a review of peer group compensation data, awards under our equity incentive program, the setting of performance goals in our annual incentive plan, an analysis of the relationship between the Company’s pay and performance relative to peers, trends and tax and regulatory developments with respect to executive

compensation, our compensation peer group, our non-employee director compensation program, advised on our 2020 retention awards program and assistance with this Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Compensia is retained by and reports to the Committee and, at the request of the Committee, participates in Committee meetings. Compensia did not provide any services to the Company with respect to 2020 other than those provided to the Committee. The Committee reviewed the independence of Compensia under Nasdaq and SEC rules and concluded that the work of Compensia has not raised any conflict of interest.

To obtain a broad view of competitive practices among industry peers and competitors for executive talent, the Committee reviews market data for peer group companies. The Committee believes that our executive compensation peer group should reflect the markets in which the Company competes for business, executive talent and capital and selects companies based on the following peer selection criteria:

In selecting companies for our peer group, the Committee considers recommendations from Compensia. The Committee approved the following peer group of companies to evaluate 2020 executive compensation decisions: Acceleron Pharma; Aimmune Therapeutics; Arena Pharmaceuticals; Biohaven Pharmaceutical; Cara Therapeutics; ChemoCentryx; Cytokinetics; Deciphera Pharmaceuticals; Epizyme; Esperion Therapeutics; FibroGen; Global Blood Therapeutics; Iovance Biotherapeutics; Karyopharm Therapeutics; MyoKardia; Reata Pharmaceuticals; Rhythm Pharmaceutical; Xencor; and Zogenix. This is the same peer group that was used for evaluating 2019 compensation decisions, except Alder BioPharmaceuticals was removed due to its acquisition, and ImmunoGen, MacroGenics and Retrophin were removed due to low market capitalization and Cytokinetics, Epizyme, FibroGen and Iovance Biotherapeutics were added in order to better align the Company to industry peers with similar market capitalization.

We believe that the compensation practices of our 2020 peer group provided us with appropriate benchmarks for evaluating the compensation of our Named Executive Officers for 2020 because of the developmental, market and organizational characteristics we shared with the companies in our peer group. In comparing the Company’s executive compensation program to the peer group, the Committee generally seeks to align cash compensation with the 50th percentile of the peer group and equity compensation with the 75th percentile of the peer group, with deviations to recognize and reward high performers.

The following table shows information regarding the compensation of our Named Executive Officers for services performed in the year ended December 31, 2020 and, to the extent required by applicable SEC executive compensation disclosure rules, December 31, 2019 and 2018.

The following table provides information regarding the possible payouts to our Named Executive Officers in 2020 under the AIP, the Cash Retention Awards and the equity awards received by our Named Executive Officers in 2020 under the Tricida, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2018 Plan.

The following table presents information regarding the outstanding stock options and RSUs held by each of the named executive officers as of December 31, 2020. Outstanding stock options held by Dr. Cantrell as of December 31, 2020 were canceled in January 2021.

The following table provides information concerning the exercise of stock options during 2020 for each of the Named Executive Officers. None of the RSUs held by the Named Executive Officers vested in 2020.