Cue Biopharma, Inc.

Current report

Our recurring losses from operations raise substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

Current report

We have incurred significant losses since our inception and have never generated revenue or profit from product sales, and it is possible we will never generate revenue or profit from product sales. As of March 31, 2025, we had cash and cash equivalents of $13.1 million. Based on our current operating plans, which reflect the approximately $18.0 million of net proceeds received from our offering in April 2025 and an upfront payment of approximately $12.0 million we received pursuant to the BI Collaboration and License Agreement, we believe we will have sufficient funds to meet our obligations into the second quarter of 2026. However, we will need to raise substantial additional capital to fund our future operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional funding, including through a combination of equity offerings, collaborations, and other strategic alliances, or other sources on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that we raise additional capital through future equity offerings, the ownership interest of common stockholders will be diluted, which dilution may be significant. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain any or sufficient additional funding or that such funding, if available, will be obtainable on terms satisfactory to us. In the event that we are unable to obtain any or sufficient additional funding, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue as a going concern, and we will be forced to delay, reduce or discontinue our product development programs or consider other various strategic alternatives.

Current report

Moreover, these factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern may materially and adversely affect the price per share of our common stock, and it may be more difficult for us to obtain financing. If existing or potential collaborators decline to do business with us or potential investors decline to participate in any future financings due to such concerns, our ability to increase our cash position may be limited. The perception that we may not be able to continue as a going concern may cause others to choose not to deal with us due to concerns about our ability to meet our contractual obligations.

Current report

The Trump Administration has recently imposed a series of tariffs on U.S. trading partners. On April 2, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order announcing a “baseline” reciprocal tariff of 10% on all U.S. trading partners effective April 5, 2025, and higher individualized reciprocal tariffs on 57 countries (with certain product exemptions for pharmaceutical-related products, among others). Previously, the administration had imposed a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico for goods not covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, and tariffs equaling 20% on China. In response, several countries threatened retaliatory measures, including Canada and China, which then imposed retaliatory tariffs. Prior to when the country-specific reciprocal tariffs were scheduled to take effect, the administration delayed the effective date of such tariffs for all countries except China. The 10% baseline reciprocal tariff on all countries remains in effect, in addition to the tariffs on China (which were a minimum of 145% as of May 8, 2025 and Canada and Mexico (which were 25% as of May 8, 2025 for goods that are not covered by the USMCA).

Current report

Separately, on April 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 into imports of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients, including finished drug products, medical countermeasures, critical inputs such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, and key starting materials, and derivative products of those items. The investigation will examine the impact of these imports on U.S. national security culminating in a decision by the President whether to take action to remedy any identified threats, including by imposing additional tariffs. The statute provides that the Commerce Department report must be completed within 270 days of initiation of the investigation and that the President must decide whether to act within 90 days of receiving the report.

Current report

On May 12, 2025, we received a deficiency letter, or the Notice, from the Listing Qualifications Department, or the Staff, of Nasdaq indicating that we failed to comply with the Minimum Bid Requirement. The Notice has no immediate effect on the listing of our common stock. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), we have an initial period of 180 calendar days (which expires on November 10, 2025) to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement. To regain compliance, the closing bid price of our common stock must be at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days during this 180 calendar day period, at which time the Staff will provide written notification to us that we comply with the Minimum Bid Requirement, unless the Staff exercises its discretion to extend this ten-day period pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(H).

Current report

If we do not regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement during the initial 180 calendar day period, we may be eligible for an additional 180 calendar day compliance period. To qualify, we will be required to meet the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other initial listing standards for The Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Minimum Bid Requirement, and will need to provide written notice to the Staff of our intention to cure the deficiency during the additional compliance period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary.

Current report

However, if we do not regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement by November 10, 2025 and it appears to the Staff that we will not be able to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement during the additional compliance period, or that we are otherwise not eligible for an additional compliance period at that time, the Staff will provide notice that our common stock will become subject to delisting. Upon receipt of such notice, under Nasdaq rules, we may appeal the Staff’s delisting determination to a Hearings Panel, or the Panel. However, if we do appeal the delisting determination by the Staff to the Panel, there can be no assurance that such appeal would be successful, or that we will be able to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Requirement or maintain compliance with the other listing requirements.

Previous report

On August 15, 2024, we received a deficiency letter from Nasdaq indicating that we failed to comply with the minimum bid price requirement. Subsequently, on October 18, 2024, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that we had regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement and were in compliance with the listing requirements. Our common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to comply with the Nasdaq listing requirements.

Previous report

We have a loan agreement that requires us to meet certain operating covenants and place restrictions on our operating and financial flexibility.

Previous report

On February 15, 2022, we entered into the Loan Agreement with SVB, as amended in April 2023, which has been assumed by First Citizens Bank, pursuant to which we have borrowed $10.0 million. The outstanding principal amount under the Loan Agreement as of September 30, 2024 is $5.0 million. The Loan Agreement is secured by substantially all of our properties, rights and assets, except for our intellectual property, which is subject to a negative pledge, and certain other customary exclusions. Because of the security interest, First Citizens Bank’s rights to repayment from a liquidation of the assets subject to that security interest would be senior to the rights of other creditors.

Previous report

The Loan Agreement, as amended, includes customary covenants including covenants requiring us to maintain our corporate existence and governmental approvals, deliver certain financial reports and maintain insurance coverage. As of September 30, 2024, we had unrestricted and unencumbered cash and cash equivalents totaling $32.4 million. Additionally, we are restricted in our ability to transfer collateral, incur additional indebtedness, engage in mergers or acquisitions, pay dividends or make other distributions, make investments, create liens, sell assets and agree to a change in control. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, which includes our failure to satisfy our payment obligations under the Loan Agreement, the breach of certain of these covenants under the Loan Agreement such as the covenant to maintain unrestricted and unencumbered cash in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) $20,000,000 and (ii) 100% of the dollar value of our consolidated cash, or the occurrence of a material adverse change in our business, First Citizens Bank is entitled to accelerate amounts due under the Loan Agreement and dispose the collateral as permitted under applicable law. Any declaration by First Citizens Bank of an event of default and its exercise of its remedies in the event of such declaration of an event of default, such as acceleration of the amounts due under the Loan Agreement, would adversely impact the amount of cash we have available to fund our operations, could significantly harm our business and prospects, and could cause the price of our common stock to decline.

Previous report

For a further description of the Loan Agreement, please refer to Notes 5 and 13 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Current report — wording carried from elsewhere

We are required to comply with the continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, including, among other things, maintaining a minimum closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share, or the Minimum Bid Requirement, or shares of our common stock may be subject to delisting, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.