HCW Biologics Inc.

For the period ended Oct 1, 2026. Filed Oct 1, 2026.

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Oct 1, 2026 · Filed Oct 1, 2026

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HCWB$1.02-1.9%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026

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DEF 14A 1 formdef14a.htm DEF 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☐	Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

☒	Definitive Proxy Statement

☐	Definitive Additional Materials

☐	Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

(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):

☒	No fee required.

☐	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

☐	Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

On November 17, 2026

October 1, 2026

Dear Fellow Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting of Stockholders of HCW Biologics Inc. (the “Company” or “HCWB”) on Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. This Special Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting, conducted only via live webcast atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM2. You will be able to attend and participate in the Special Meeting online, submit questions during the meeting and vote your shares electronically. In addition, although the live webcast is available only to stockholders at the time of the meeting, following completion of the Special Meeting, a webcast replay will be available atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM2 for a period of one year after the Special Meeting.

At the Special Meeting the Company will submit the following proposal to its stockholders for approval. Our Board recommends a voteFORProposal One.

To approve issuance of Common Warrants exercisable for up to 618,682 shares of Common Stock at $2.585 per share in connection with private placement financing completed on July 29, 2026. On July 29, 2026, the Company completed a $1.6 million private placement in which we issued common stock warrants that may be exercised to purchase up to 618,682 shares of Common Stock (“Common Warrants”) at $2.585 per share. The Company required stockholder approval to be compliant with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), which is also known as the “20% Rule.” In order to comply with the Nasdaq 20% Rule, we are seeking stockholder approval to permit the potential issuance of more than 19.99% of our outstanding Common Stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants in accordance with their terms. The Company is obligated to seek stockholder approval until such approval is obtained.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

On or about October 1, 2026, we will commence mailing a Notice of Special Meeting and Proxy Statement to our stockholders along with instructions on how to access our Proxy Statement via the Internet and authorize a proxy to vote your shares online.Please use this opportunity to take part in our affairs by voting on the business to come before the Special Meeting. Our Board has fixed the close of business on September 21, 2026, as the record date for the Special Meeting (the “Record Date”), and only stockholders of record as of the Record Date may vote at the Special Meeting and any postponements or adjournments of the meeting. All stockholders are cordially invited to participate in the Special Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof. Returning the paper proxy card or voting electronically does NOT deprive you of your right to participate in the virtual meeting and to vote your shares for the matters acted upon at the meeting.

Our Board recommends a voteFORProposal One. For ten days prior to the Special Meeting, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder, for any purpose relating to the meeting, during ordinary business hours at our principal offices located at 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend and participate in the Special Meeting, please vote as soon as possible by submitting your proxy electronically via the internet or, if you requested paper copies of the proxy materials, by telephone by following the instructions in the proxy materials or by completing, signing and dating the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage paid envelope.

On behalf of our Board, thank you for your participation in this important process.

Sincerely,

Hing C. Wong, Ph.D.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

2929 N. Commerce Parkway

Miramar, Florida 33025

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 17, 2026: THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY CARD ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE ATwww.proxyvote.com**.**

HCW BIOLOGICS, INC.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be held November 17, 2026

Time and Date:	November 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.
Place:	The Special Meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted exclusively online via live audio webcast on the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM2. By logging onto this website with the control number included on your proxy card or voting instruction form at the designated time, stockholders and proxyholders of record as of the record date identified below may be deemed present in person and eligible to vote at the Special Meeting.
Items of Business:	1. To approve, for purposes of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of Common Warrants exercisable for up to 618,682 shares of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the Transaction Documents entered into by the Company and certain Investors in connection with the Company’s private placement financing completed on July 29, 2026; and 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Record Date:	Only stockholders of record at the close of business on September 21, 2026 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof.
Proxy Voting:	Each share of common stock that you own represents one vote.
	For questions regarding your stock ownership, you may contact us through our website at https://investors.hcwbiologics.com/ir-resources/contact-us or email us at info@hcwbiologics.com, or, if you are a registered holder, contact our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, through its website at www.equiniti.com or by phone at (800) 937-5449.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Hing C. Wong, Ph.D.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Miramar, FL

October 1, 2026

Whether or not you expect to participate in the virtual Special Meeting, please vote as promptly as possible in order to ensure your representation at the Special Meeting. You may vote online or, if you received printed copies of the proxy materials, by telephone or by using the proxy card or voting instruction form provided with the printed proxy materials.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING	1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PROXY MATERIALS, VOTING, AND THE MEETING	1
PROPOSAL ONE: ISSUANCE OF SHARES IN EXCESS OF EXCHANGE CAP PROPOSAL	7
HOUSEHOLDING	8
OTHER MATTERS	8

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This proxy statement contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this proxy statement. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this proxy statement, including statements regarding effecting a reverse stock split, the timing of a reverse stock split, the principal effects of a reverse stock split, and the intended benefits of a reverse stock split, are forward-looking statements.

The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results, including:

●	the approval and issuance of the Common Warrants;
●	our ability to maintain compliance with the listing standards of Nasdaq.

We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this proxy statement. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described under the heading, “Certain Risks and Potential Disadvantages” in Proposal 1 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this proxy statement may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this proxy statement to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2026

ContentsView on SEC.gov

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