ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

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

Check the appropriate box:

ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS, 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):

April 6, 2026

Dear Rocket Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (together with any adjournment or postponement thereof, the “Annual Meeting”) of Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), which will be held solely by means of remote communication via the Internet atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/RCKT2026 on May 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time.

We are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s “notice and access” rules. As a result, we are mailing to many of our stockholders a Notice of Internet Availability of our proxy materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”) instead of a paper copy of the proxy statement and our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Notice of Internet Availability contains instructions on how to access those documents over the Internet. The Notice of Internet Availability also contains instructions on how each of those stockholders can receive a paper copy of our proxy materials, including the proxy statement, our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and a form of proxy card. All stockholders who do not receive the Notice of Internet Availability, including stockholders who have previously requested to receive paper copies of proxy materials, will receive a paper copy of the proxy materials by mail unless they have previously requested delivery of proxy materials electronically. Employing this process will expedite the receipt of materials and will help lower our costs and reduce the environmental impact of distributing our annual meeting materials.

The proxy statement describes the formal business that we will transact at the Annual Meeting. At this year’s Annual Meeting, our stockholders will be asked to consider and act upon the following matters:

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the election of each of the director nominees named in the proxy statement, “FOR” the ratification of EisnerAmper LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, “FOR” the non-binding, advisory vote on a resolution relating to the compensation of our named executive officers, and “FOR” the approval of the proposed stock option exchange program. Please promptly complete, sign and return the enclosed proxy card by mail or submit your voting instructions by Internet, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is important, regardless of the number of shares you own. We urge you to please submit your proxy on these important matters. Submitting a proxy will not prevent you from voting virtually via the Internet at the Annual Meeting but will assure that your vote is counted if you cannot attend.

We strongly encourage you to transmit your voting instructions by proxy prior to the Annual Meeting and, if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, to do so virtually via the Internet.

On behalf of the Board and the employees of the Company, we thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Gaurav Shah

Gaurav Shah, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer and Director

ROCKET PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

9 Cedarbrook Drive

Cranbury, NJ 08512

(609) 659-8001

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

The enclosed proxy statement describes the formal business that we will transact at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (together with any adjournment or postponement thereof, the “Annual Meeting”) of Rocket Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), which will be held solely by means of remote communication via the Internet at the address above. At the Annual Meeting, our stockholders will be asked to consider and act upon the following matters:

RECORD DATE

The record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting is March 24, 2026. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on that date may vote at the Annual Meeting.

PROXY VOTING

You are deemed to be present in person, vote, and participate in the Annual Meeting solely by means of remote communication via the Internet atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/RCKT2026 where you will be able to vote electronically and submit questions during the Annual Meeting. You will be able to vote electronically and submit questions only if you use your control number, which will be included on your Notice of Internet Availability of proxy materials or proxy card (if you received a printed copy of the proxy materials), to log on to the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting, please submit the enclosed proxy or voting instructions by mail, telephone, or Internet. Submitting a proxy or voting instructions will not prevent you from attending the Annual Meeting and voting virtually via the Internet. Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank, or other nominee and you wish to vote at the Annual Meeting, you must obtain a proxy issued in your name from that record holder. Each stockholder may appoint only one proxy holder or representative to attend the Annual Meeting on his or her behalf.

The Notice of Internet Availability and the enclosed proxy materials are being made available to our stockholders on or about April 6, 2026.

By Order of the Board of Directors

/s/ Gaurav Shah

Gaurav Shah, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Cranbury, New Jersey

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be Held on May 20, 2026. The Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Proxy Statement and our 2025 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available atwww.proxyvote.com and through our website atwww.rocketpharma.com.