Cellectar Biosciences Inc

Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers

Executive Compensation

This section provides information, in tabular and narrative formats specified in applicable SEC rules, regarding the amounts of compensation paid to each of our named executive officers, or NEOs, and related information. As a smaller reporting company, the Company has presented such information in accordance with the scaled disclosure requirements permitted under applicable SEC regulations.

The following table sets forth certain information concerning all cash and non-cash compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our each of NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:

2024 Summary Compensation Table

Committee on November 30, 2023, subject to stockholder approval of an amendment to the Company’s 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. Because stockholder approval was received in 2024, these stock option awards are considered granted in 2024 under ASC 718 and are reflected as 2024 compensation in the 2024 Summary Compensation Table.

Equity Awards

As described in Note (1) to the 2024 Summary Compensation Table above, on November 30, 2023 the Compensation Committee approved stock option awards to Messrs. Caruso, Longcor and Kolean with respect to 900,000 shares, 500,000 shares, and 290,000 shares, respectively, subject to stockholder approval of an amendment to the 2021 Plan at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. These options are scheduled to vest one-third on the first anniversary of the grant date and in 24 equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to continuous employment with the Company through each vesting date.

Employment Agreements

*James V. Caruso.*We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Caruso as of June 15, 2015, as amended and restated on April 15, 2019, pursuant to which Mr. Caruso serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Under the agreement, the Company pays Mr. Caruso a base salary that is adjusted from time to time. Mr. Caruso is also eligible for an annual bonus, based on performance, with an initial target of up to 50% of his base salary at the discretion of the Compensation Committee. If Mr. Caruso is terminated other than for cause or by Mr. Caruso for good reason within 12 months after a change in control (i.e. double trigger), he is entitled to severance in an amount equal to (i) 24 months of base salary, (ii) his then applicable target bonus payable over 24 months (a total of 1.5x the annual target bonus payable at the time of termination) and (iii) 24 months of payment or reimbursement of health insurance (equal to the premium paid by the Company prior to the date of termination), each payable in installments over 24 months. Following a termination of employment by the Company without cause or by Mr. Caruso for good reason that is not within 12 months after a change in control, Mr. Caruso is entitled to severance in an amount equal to 12 months base salary plus payment or reimbursement of health insurance for 12 months (equal to the premium paid by the Company prior to the date of termination). Each of the foregoing severance benefits is conditioned on Mr. Caruso’s execution of a release agreement in favor of the Company.

Jarrod Longcor. We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Longcor as of July 15, 2016, as amended and restated on April 15, 2019, and amended on November 10, 2019. Under the agreement, Mr. Longcor receives a base salary that may be adjusted from time to time. Mr. Longcor is eligible for an annual bonus, based on performance, with an initial target of up to 30% of his base salary. If Mr. Longcor’s employment is terminated other than for cause or by Mr. Longcor for good reason, contingent upon the execution of a release agreement in favor of the Company, Mr. Longcor is entitled to (i) severance in an amount equal to nine months of Mr. Longcor’s annual base salary, provided that if such termination occurs within 12 months after a change in control (i.e. double trigger), such severance is increased to 18 months of Mr. Longcor’s full base salary, each payable in monthly installments, (ii) payment or reimbursement of health insurance (for nine or 18 months, as applicable), each payable in monthly installments, (iii) a payment amount equal to the annual bonus Mr. Longcor would have received for the calendar year in which the termination occurred prorated for the number of days elapsed in such year, and (iv) outplacement services not to exceed $7,500.

Chad J. Kolean. We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Kolean as of February 22, 2022. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Kolean receives a base salary that may be adjusted from time to time and is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus with a target amount equal to 40% of his base salary. In the event of a dismissal without cause or resignation by Mr. Kolean for good reason, Mr. Kolean will be entitled to nine months of severance. In the event of dismissal without cause or

resignation by Mr. Kolean for good reason, within the eighteen months following a change in control, Mr. Kolean will be entitled to eighteen months of severance.

2024 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2024, with respect to our NEOs.

Pursuant to the terms of the option award agreements, options granted pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2015 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2021 Plan become fully vested upon a termination event within one year following a change in control, as defined in such plans. A termination event is defined as either termination of employment other than for cause or constructive termination resulting from a significant reduction in either the nature or scope of duties and responsibilities, a reduction in compensation or a required relocation.

Risks Related to Compensation Policies and Practices

When determining our compensation policies and practices, the Compensation Committee considers various matters relevant to the development of a reasonable and prudent compensation program, including whether the policies and practices are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. We believe that the mix and design of our executive compensation plans and policies do not encourage management to assume excessive risks and are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us.

Pay Versus Performance

2024 Director Compensation

The following table sets forth certain information about the compensation of our non-employee directors who served during the year ended December 31, 2024:

During 2024, we paid each of our non-employee directors a quarterly cash fee of $15,000 ($22,500 for Mr. Swirsky). In addition, in December 2023, we granted to each non-employee director stock options to purchase 60,000 shares (90,000 shares for Mr. Swirsky), which were subject to the approval of an amendment to the 2021 Plan at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders. Mr. Swirsky receives additional cash remuneration and option awards for his service as Chairman of the Board of the Company. We reimbursed directors for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending Board and committee meetings and undertaking certain matters on our behalf. Directors who are our employees do not receive additional fees for their service as directors.

The aggregate number of option awards outstanding as of December 31, 2024, for each non-employee director was as follows:

Clawback Policy

Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, in the event of misconduct that results in a financial restatement that would have reduced a previously paid incentive amount, we can recoup those improper payments from our executive officers. The SEC also recently adopted rules which direct national stock exchanges to require listed companies to implement policies intended to recoup bonuses paid to executives if we are found to have misstated its financial results. We have adopted our Executive Compensation Clawback Policy (the “Clawback Policy”) in order to comply with the final clawback rules adopted by the SEC under the Rule, and the listing standards, as set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5608 (the “Final Clawback Rules”).

The Clawback Policy provides for the mandatory recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation from our current and former executive officers as defined in the Rule (“Covered Officers”) in the event that we are required to prepare an accounting restatement, in accordance with the Final Clawback Rules. The recovery of such compensation applies regardless of whether a Covered Officer engaged in misconduct or otherwise caused or contributed to the requirement of an accounting restatement. Under the Clawback Policy, our board of directors may recoup from the Covered Officers erroneously awarded incentive compensation received within a lookback period of the three completed fiscal years preceding the date on which we are required to prepare an accounting restatement. The foregoing description of the Clawback Policy does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Clawback Policy, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 97 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Timing of Grants of Options

We do not grant option awards in anticipation of the release of material nonpublic information and we donot time the release ofmaterial nonpublic information based on option award grant dates or for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation. In addition, we do not take material nonpublic information into account when determining the timing and terms of such awards. In fiscal year 2024, we did not grant option awards to our named executive officers during the time period outlined in Item 402(x) of Regulation S-K