Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

On April 21, 2026, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) approved a grant under the Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”), to James Parslow, the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to the terms of a grant agreement, as follows: Mr. Parslow was granted 100,000 shares of restricted stock of the Company pursuant to a grant agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference. The shares represented by the grant will vest and become exercisable as follows: 7,000 shares shall vest on the date of grant and one-third of the remaining (93,000) shares shall vest on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of April 21, 2026.

The foregoing description of the grant agreement is intended only as a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms of the grant agreement attached to this Form 8-K.

(d) Exhibits