HCW Biologics Inc.

Current report

Sale of Unregistered Shares of Common Stock

Current report

During the past three years, we sold the following securities without registration under the Securities Act:

Current report

On February 20, 2024, the Company completed a private placement of 7,441 shares of Common Stock to certain officers and directors for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $2.5 million. The shares were sold at a purchase price of $336.00 per share. The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee reviewed the transaction pursuant to the Company’s Related Party Transactions Policy and determined that the transaction complied with the policy.

Current report

On November 18, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (“Armistice”). In a concurrent private placement completed on November 20, 2024, the Company issued unregistered warrants to purchase up to 27,988 shares of Common Stock (the “Armistice Warrants”). On April 16, 2025, the SEC declared effective a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-286409) covering the resale of the shares underlying the Armistice Warrants.

Current report

On May 7, 2025, pursuant to the terms of an amendment to certain outstanding Secured Notes approved by stockholders on March 31, 2025, the Company issued 42,181 shares of Common Stock and warrants to purchase an additional 21,090 shares of Common Stock in connection with the conversion of approximately $6.6 million principal amount of Secured Notes and related amounts.

Current report

On November 19, 2025, the Company entered into a warrant inducement transaction with Armistice, pursuant to which Armistice exercised existing warrants to purchase 251,702 shares of Common Stock, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $4.0 million. In consideration for such exercise, the Company issued new unregistered warrants to purchase up to 503,402 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $14.46 per share. On January 29, 2026, the SEC declared effective a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-292652) covering the resale of the shares underlying such warrants.

Current report

On November 19, 2025, the Company entered into a warrant inducement agreement with Armistice pursuant to which Armistice exercised existing warrants to purchase 251,702 shares of Common Stock at a reduced exercise price, resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $4.0 million. In consideration for such exercise, the Company issued new unregistered warrants to purchase up to 503,402 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $14.46 per share. On January 29, 2026, the SEC declared effective a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-292652) covering the resale of the shares underlying such warrants.

Current report

On May 21, 2026, the Company completed a private placement of an aggregate of 474,496 units to a group of existing investors, including certain directors, officers and significant stockholders, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4.0 million. Each unit consisted of one share of Common Stock (or a pre-funded warrant in lieu thereof) and one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock. On June 18, 2026, the SEC declared effective a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-296577) covering the resale of the securities issued in the private placement.

Current report

On July 29, 2026, the Company completed a private placement with certain accredited investors in which the Company sold 618,682 units, each unit consisting of one share of Common Stock, or a Pre-Funded Warrant in lieu thereof, and (ii) the right to receive one Common Stock Warrant upon, and subject to, stockholder approval of the issuance of such Common Stock Warrants, which approval the Company is obligated to seek pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement. Gross proceeds of the offering were approximately $1.6 million before deducting offering expenses. The Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to which it agreed to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock issued in the private placement, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants and the shares issuable upon exercise of the Common Stock Warrants. Hing C. Wong, Ph.D., our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Garrett, Chairman of our board of directors, and Lee Flowers, our Senior Vice President of Business Development, participated in the private placement on the same terms and conditions as the other investor.

Current report

The foregoing issuances were made in reliance upon exemptions from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder, as applicable.

Previous report

Standby Equity Line of Credit

Previous report

Restructuring and Conversion of Secured Notes

Previous report

The holders of $6.6 million of the outstanding principal of the Secured Notes have agreed to and effected the conversion of the Secured Notes held by them into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a conversion price of $26.00 per share (“Conversion Shares”), warrants to purchase approximately $3.3 million of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $26.00 per share (“Conversion Warrants”), and the right to their pro rata share of 49.11% of the proceeds of the Company’s shares of Wugen common stock (“Wugen Shares”), if and when such shares are ever sold (the “Wugen Proceeds”). The conversion was approved at a Special Meeting of Stockholders held on March 31, 2025 and was effected pursuant to the terms of the Conversion Amendment. On May 7, 2025, pursuant to the Conversion Amendment, the Secured Notes held by the participating noteholders were cancelled, and the Company issued a total of 253,083 unregistered shares of Common Stock (which are subject to a 180-day lock-up) and warrants to purchase an additional 126,540 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $26.00 per share. On January 29, 2026, the SEC declared effective a resale registration statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-292652) covering the resale of shares of Common Stock and warrants issued to such note holders.

Previous report

Inducement Agreement

Previous report

On November 19, 2025, the Company entered into a warrant inducement agreement with an existing stockholder (the “Inducement Agreement”), pursuant to which the Investor agreed to immediately exercise in full all of its outstanding warrants originally issued on November 20, 2024 (as amended on May 15, 2025) and on May 15, 2025 (the “Existing Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 1,510,205 shares of Common Stock at an amended exercise price of $2.66 per share, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $4.0 million before fees and expenses. In consideration for the immediate exercise of the Existing Warrants, the Company issued to the Investor, in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, new unregistered Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “New Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.41 per share. The New Warrants are exercisable immediately and expire five and one-half years from their issuance. The New Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon their exercise have not been registered under the Securities Act. The Company agreed, pursuant to the Inducement Agreement, to file a registration statement covering the resale of the shares issuable upon exercise of the New Warrants. Maxim Group LLC acted as a financial advisor in connection with this November 19, 2025 warrant inducement. On January 29, 2026, the SEC declared effective a resale registration statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-292652) covering the resale of shares of Common Stock underlying the New Warrants.

Previous report

Sale of Common Stock in Private Placement

Previous report

On February 20, 2024, we entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) with certain officers and directors of the Company, including our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, pursuant to which the Company sold an aggregate of 44,643 shares of our Common Stock, at a purchase price of $56.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $2.5 million. The per share purchase price represents a 25% premium to the per share closing price of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on the February 20, 2024 and a 19% premium to the 5-day volume weighted average closing price per share of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market for the period ending on the February 20, 2024.

Previous report

The shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in reliance upon exemptions under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Previous report

Secured Note Financing

Previous report

On March 28, 2024, the Company entered into a senior secured note purchase agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) with the Purchasers (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement), pursuant to which we agreed to issue senior secured notes in an aggregate principal amount of up to $10.0 million (“Secured Notes”) to certain accredited investors, including unrelated parties as well as officers and directors of the Company. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had an initial closing and issued $2.0 million in Initial Secured Notes. As of June 30, 2024, all existing investors approved an Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement (“Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement”), with terms described below. As of September 30, 2024, the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement was amended to extend the last closing date to issue Additional Secured Notes to October 31, 2024. The material terms of the Additional Secured Notes are identical to the terms of the Initial Secured Notes.

Previous report

As of October 31, 2024, the Company issued an aggregate of $6.9 million of Secured Notes, with $2.9 million from the Company’s officers and members of the board of directors, including $2.4 million purchased by Dr. Hing C. Wong, Founder and CEO, $220,000 purchased by Rebecca Byam, Chief Financial Officer, $140,000 purchased by Scott T. Garrett, Chairman of the board of directors, $60,000 purchased by Gary M. Winer, who was serving as a member of the board of directors at the time of his investment, $25,000 purchased by Lee Flowers, Senior Vice President for Business Development, and $25,000 purchased by Rick S. Greene, member of the board of directors.

Previous report

The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 9% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, and mature on August 30, 2026 (the “Maturity Date”), on which date the principal balance, accrued but unpaid interest, and other amounts that may be due under the terms of the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement shall be due and payable. The Secured Notes may be prepaid on or prior to December 31, 2024, but will be subject to a 5% prepayment penalty (“Premium Amount”). Thereafter, the Senior Notes may be repaid upon a Mandatory Redemption event or at the end of the term.

Previous report

As a condition to entering into the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, the Company, Mercedes M. Sellek, P.A. (“Escrow Agent”), and the Purchasers entered into that certain Escrow Agreement and Amended and Restated Pledge Agreement, dated July 2, 2024, pursuant to which the Company agreed to pledge our equity ownership interest in Wugen (the “Pledged Collateral”), to be held and released by Escrow Agent according to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, as security for the Secured Notes.

Previous report

Upon a qualifying event involving a transaction such as an acquisition, merger or initial public offering in which the Pledged Collateral can be sold or liquidated prior to the Maturity Date, subject to certain limitations (such as a threshold price per share in the case of an initial public offering), the Company agreed to repay all indebtedness (including accrued interest) related to the Secured Notes plus a Bonus Payment (as defined in the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement). If there is no such mandatory redemption prior to the Maturity Date, the Company agreed to pay the holders of Secured Notes a Bonus Payment under certain circumstances.

Previous report

Upon an Event of Default (as defined in the Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement), the Company will have a thirty (30) day cure period (the “Cure Period”), and if the Event of Default is not so cured at the end of the Cure Period, the Company is required to distribute the Pledged Collateral to the Purchasers on apro rata basis, determined based on the issuance of $10.0 million in Secured Notes, in full satisfaction of the indebtedness evidenced by the Secured Notes.

Previous report

The issuance of the Additional Secured Notes was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in accordance with Section 4(a)(2), as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering. In addition, our Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors reviewed the transaction under our policy for Related Party Transactions (the “Policy”) and determined that the issuance of the Additional Secured Notes was in compliance with the Policy.

Previous report

On February 20, 2025, the Company and certain Noteholders agreed to Principal Terms for Conversion of their Secured Notes. Noteholders and the Company agreed that, subject to stockholder approval, at least $6.6 million in principal amount of the Secured Notes will be converted into shares of our Common Stock at a conversion price of $26.00 per share. As part of the conversion, the Company will issue warrants to purchase shares of our Common Stock to the converting Noteholders for up to an additional $3.3 million of shares of our Common Stock, at an exercise price of $26.00 per share. Upon conversion, converting Noteholders would be subject to a lock-up period of 180 days from the date of conversion. Further, the Escrow Agreement will be amended such that the proceeds from the Pledged Collateral will be allocated among the Company and the converting Noteholders, as provided for in the Principal Terms. The conversion of principal amount of the Secured Notes will result in a dollar-for-dollar increase in stockholders’ equity (partially offset by the carrying value of the portion of the Company’s investment in the Pledged Collateral the proceeds of which will be paid to converting Noteholders), contributing to the Company’s plan to gain compliance with the Nasdaq Minimum Shareholder Equity Rule and to maintaining listing of the our Common Stock on Nasdaq.

Previous report

The Principal Terms of Conversion were approved at a Special Meeting of Stockholders held on March 31, 2025 and were effected pursuant to the terms of that certain Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Senior Secured Note Purchase Agreement and Related Agreements dated as of May 1, 2025 (the “Conversion Amendment”). On May 7, 2025, pursuant to the Conversion Amendment, the Secured Notes held by the participating noteholders were cancelled, and the Company issued a total of 253,083 unregistered shares of Common Stock (which are subject to a 180-day lock-up) and warrants to purchase an additional 126,540 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $26.00 per share. On January 29, 2026, the SEC declared effective a resale registration statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-292652) covering the resale of shares of Common Stock and warrants issued to such note holders.

Previous report

Unsecured Promissory Notes

Previous report

As of May 5, 2025, the Company issued a total of $270,000 principal amount of unsecured convertible promissory notes that mature on May 5, 2026 with paid in kind interest accruing thereon, payable quarterly in arrears at 10% per annum (the “Convertible Bridge Notes”). In accordance with their terms, following the completion of a qualified offering, the Convertible Bridge Notes were converted into shares of our Common Stock at the final offering price in an offering that closed on May 15, 2025. In addition, holders of the Convertible Bridge Notes have the right to receive a portion of the proceeds of the Company’s shares of Wugen common stock, if and when such shares are ever sold, determined by the number of the Wugen shares equal to 0.25 multiplied by the original principal amount, in dollars, of the Convertible Bridge Notes. Investors included: $60,000 invested by Hing C. Wong, the Company’s Founder and CEO; $100,000 invested by Scott T. Garrett, the Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors; and $10,000 invested by Gary M. Winer, who was serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors at the time of his investment. As of May 15, 2025, the outstanding principal of Convertible Bridge Notes were converted upon completion of a $5.0 million equity financing.

Previous report

Special Meeting of Stockholders

Previous report

As required in the $1.5 million equity offering and repricing of existing warrants that closed on February 19, 2026, the Company held a Special Meeting of Stockholders on April 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. At the Special Meeting the Company submitted the following two proposals to its stockholders for approval:

Previous report

Proposal 1: To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of up to 2,477,292 Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “Common Warrants”) issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 17, 2026 (the “SPA”), entered into in connection with the Company’s follow-on public offering of Units (the “Offering”), which Offering was conducted pursuant to a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) declared effective by the SEC on February 17, 2026 and closed on February 19, 2026, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026, each Unit consisting of (i) one share of Common Stock or one Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock and (ii) one Common Warrant, with such Common Warrants exercisable only upon receipt of stockholder approval and having an exercise price equal to 100% of the public offering price per Unit, and such additional terms and conditions of the Common Warrants not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve; and

Previous report

Proposal 2: To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the repricing of certain warrants issued on November 20, 2025 to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of our Common Stock (the “Existing Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement, dated February 17, 2026, entered into in connection with the Offering conducted pursuant to the Registration Statement (as disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026), to reduce the exercise price of the Existing Warrants from $2.41 per share to $0.6055 per share, and to approve the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Existing Warrants as so amended, and such additional terms and conditions of such amendment not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve.

Previous report

The Special Meeting was adjourned due to lack of quorum. These two proposals were added to the proposals presented to stockholders for their consideration in a definitive proxy filed for the Annual Meeting on April 28, 2026.

Previous report

Change in Quorum Approved Unanimously by Board of Directors

Previous report

On April 15, 2026, our Board of Directors unanimously approved and adopted an amendment to the Company’s Bylaws (as amended and restated to date, the “Bylaws”). The amendment, which is effective from and after April 28, 2026, lowers the quorum requirement contained in Section 1.5 of the Bylaws to provide that holders of thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the voting power, which includes the voting power that is present in person or by proxy, regardless of whether the proxy has authority to vote on any matter, constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

Previous report

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Previous report

On April 28, 2026, the Company filed a definitive proxy for our Annual Meeting to be held on June 15, 2026, at which the Company will submit the following five proposals to its stockholders for approval:

Previous report

Election of Directors. To elect the Class II directors listed in the accompanying proxy statement to serve a three-year term expiring at the 2029 annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal (“Proposal One”).

Previous report

Appointment of Company’s Auditors. To ratify the appointment of Crowe LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of HCW Biologics Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 (“Proposal Two”).

Previous report

Reverse Stock Split to Maintain Nasdaq Listing. To approve an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation on or before the one (1) year anniversary of the Annual Meeting, to implement one or more reverse stock splits of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (our “Common Stock”) (as necessary to maintain a listing of our Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”)) in an aggregate range from one-for-five (1::5) up to one-for-twenty (1::20). (“Proposal Three”).

Previous report

Issuance of Shares Upon Exercise of Common Warrants. To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of up to 2,477,292 Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “Common Warrants”) issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 17, 2026, entered into in connection with the Company’s follow-on public offering of Units, consisting of one share of Common Stock purchased for $0.6055 and one Common Warrant which may be exercised to purchase one share of Common Stock for $0.6055 per share. The Company is obliged to submit this proposal for a stockholders’ vote every 60 days, until passed. (“Proposal Four”); and

Previous report

Warrants Repricing Proposal. To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the repricing of certain warrants issued on November 20, 2025 to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of our Common Stock pursuant to that certain Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement, dated February 17, 2026, to reduce the exercise price of the Existing Warrants to $0.6055 per share, and to approve the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Existing Warrants as so amended. The Company is obliged to submit this proposal for a stockholders’ vote every 60 days, until passed or until such warrants are no longer outstanding**.** (“Proposal Five”).

Previous report

The complete definitive proxy statement is included in Exhibit 10.40 to this Quarterly Report.