SEC Form PRE 14A filed by Cue Biopharma Inc.

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

(Amendment No. )

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

Cue Biopharma, 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 all boxes that apply):

☒ 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

PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED MARCH 6, 2026

CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

40 Guest Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02135

NOTICE OF 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Monday, April 13, 2026

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or the Annual Meeting, of Cue Biopharma, Inc. The Annual Meeting will be held exclusively via the Internet in a virtual meeting format at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026 on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The stockholders will consider and vote on the following matters:

Our stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 9, 2026, or the record date, are entitled to participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting. To participate in the Annual Meeting, including to vote and ask questions, stockholders of record should go to the meeting website at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026, enter the 16-digit control number found on your proxy card or voting instruction form and follow the instructions on the website.

A printed copy of our proxy materials, including this Proxy Statement, our 2025 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and a proxy card, is being mailed to our stockholders on or about March [__], 2026 and sent by email to our stockholders who have opted for such means of delivery on or about March [__], 2026.

We encourage all stockholders to attend the Annual Meeting online. However, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting online, we encourage you to read the Proxy Statement and submit your proxy or voting instructions as soon as possible. Please review the instructions on how to vote your shares online during the Annual Meeting as described in the Proxy Statement.

By the Order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Colin Sandercock

Colin Sandercock

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Boston, Massachusetts

March [__], 2026

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on April 13, 2026: You will be able to view this Proxy Statement, our 2025 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and a proxy card or voting instruction form online at www.proxyvote.com.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CUE BIOPHARMA, INC.

40 Guest Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02135

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To Be Held on Monday, April 13, 2026

INFORMATION CONCERNING SOLICITATION AND VOTING

This Proxy Statement contains information about our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, or the Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting will be held exclusively via the Internet in a virtual meeting format at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026. There will not be a physical meeting location, and stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. Except where the context otherwise requires, references to “Cue Biopharma,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Cue Biopharma, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary. References to our website are inactive textual references only and the contents of our website are not incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.

This Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy card are being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our board of directors for use at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting. All proxies will be voted in accordance with the instructions they contain. If you do not specify your voting instructions on your proxy, it will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our board of directors. We are making this Proxy Statement, our 2025 Annual Report to Stockholders, which includes our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, and a proxy card available to stockholders for the first time on or about March [__], 2026.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

Q. Why do I have access to these materials?

A. We have made these proxy materials available to you because our board of directors is soliciting your proxy to vote at the Annual Meeting to be held on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, including at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. As a holder of record of common stock as of the close of business on March 9, 2026, you are invited to attend the Annual Meeting online and are requested to vote on the items of business described in this Proxy Statement. This Proxy Statement includes information that we are required to provide to you under the rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and that is designed to assist you in voting your shares.

Q. What is the purpose of the Annual Meeting?

A. At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will consider and vote on the following matters:

Q. Why is the Annual Meeting a virtual, online meeting?

A. The Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of stockholders where stockholders will participate by accessing a website using the Internet. There will not be a physical meeting location. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting will facilitate stockholder attendance and participation at the Annual Meeting by enabling stockholders to participate from any location around the world. The Annual Meeting will be governed by our Rules of Conduct and Procedures which will be posted during the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026. We have designed the virtual annual meeting to provide the same rights and opportunities to participate as stockholders would have at an in-person meeting, including the right to vote and ask questions through the virtual meeting platform.

Q. How do I virtually attend the Annual Meeting?

A. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting. To participate in the Annual Meeting, including to vote and ask questions, stockholders of record should go to the meeting website at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026, enter the 16-digit control number found on your proxy card or voting instruction form and follow the instructions on the website. If your shares are held in street name and your voting instruction form indicates that you may vote those shares through www.proxyvote.com, then you may access, participate in and vote at the Annual Meeting with the 16-digit access code indicated on that voting instruction form. Otherwise, stockholders who hold their shares in street name should contact their bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and obtain a “legal proxy” in order to be able to attend, participate in or vote at the Annual Meeting.

The webcast of the Annual Meeting will start on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Q. Who can vote?

A. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 9, 2026, the record date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On this record date, there were [___________] shares of our common stock outstanding. Common stock is our only class of stock outstanding.

Q. How many votes do I have?

A. Each share of our common stock that you own as of the record date, March 9, 2026, entitles you to one vote on each matter that is voted on.

Q. Is my vote important?

A. Your vote is important no matter how many shares you own. Please take the time to vote. Take a moment to read the instructions, choose the way to vote that is the easiest and most convenient for you and cast your vote as soon as possible.

Q. How do I vote?

A. If you are the “record holder” of your shares, meaning that you own your shares in your own name and not through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you may vote:

If your shares are held in “street name,” meaning they are held for your account by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you may vote:

Q. Can I change my vote?

A. If your shares are registered directly in your name, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote by following one of the below procedures:

If your shares are held in “street name,” you may submit new voting instructions with a later date by contacting your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee. You may also vote virtually at the Annual Meeting, which will have the effect of revoking any previously submitted voting instructions, if you obtain a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee as described in the answer to the question “How do I vote?” above.

Q. Will my shares be voted if I do not return my proxy or do not give specific voting instructions?

A. If your shares are registered directly in your name, your shares will not be voted if you do not vote over the Internet, by telephone or by returning your proxy card by mail or online while virtually attending the Annual Meeting. If you are a stockholder of record and you submit your proxy or sign and return a proxy card without giving specific voting instructions, then the proxy holders will vote your shares in the manner recommended by the board on all matters presented in this Proxy Statement and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion for any other matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting.

If your shares are held in “street name,” your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee may under certain circumstances vote your shares if you do not return your voting instructions. Banks, brokerage firms and other nominees can vote your shares on discretionary matters in the absence of voting instructions from you but they will not be allowed to vote your shares with respect to non-discretionary matters such as the election of directors. If you do not return voting instructions to your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares, your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee may, on discretionary matters, either vote your shares or leave your shares unvoted.

Your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee cannot vote your shares on any matter that is not considered discretionary. Proposal 1 (the election of directors) and Proposal 3 (the advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers) are not expected to be considered discretionary matters. If you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee how to vote with respect to these proposals, we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee may not vote with respect to these proposals and those votes will be counted as “broker non-votes.” “Broker non-votes” are shares that are held in “street name” by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee that indicates on its proxy that it does not have or did not exercise discretionary authority to vote on a particular matter. Proposal 2 (the ratification of the appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026) and Proposal 4 (the adoption and approval of an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split) are expected to be considered discretionary matters, and we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will be able to exercise discretionary authority to vote on these proposals even if it does not receive voting instructions from you, so long as it holds your shares in its name. We encourage you to provide voting instructions to your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee. This ensures that your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting according to your instructions. You should receive directions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee about how to submit your voting instructions.

Q. May I see a list of stockholders entitled to vote as of the record date?

A. A list of registered stockholders as of the close of business on the record date will be available for examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting for a period of 10 days ending on the day before the Annual Meeting and also during the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026 and entering the 16-digit control number included in your proxy card.

Q. How many shares must be represented to hold the Annual Meeting?

A. A majority of our shares of common stock issued and outstanding at the record date and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting must be present virtually or represented by proxy to hold the Annual Meeting. This is called a quorum. For purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, we count as present any shares that are voted over the Internet, by telephone, by completing and submitting a proxy card by mail or that are represented virtually at the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes count as present for purposes of establishing a quorum. If a quorum is not present, we expect to adjourn the Annual Meeting until we obtain a quorum.

As of the record date, March 9, 2026, [__________] shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding.

Q. What vote is required to approve each matter and how are votes counted?

Proposal 1 - Election of Directors

The seven nominees for director to receive the highest number of votes FOR election will be elected as directors. This is called a plurality. Proposal 1 is not expected to be considered a discretionary matter. Therefore, if your shares are held by your bank,

brokerage firm or other nominee in “street name” and you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee cannot vote your shares on Proposal 1. Shares held in “street name” by banks, brokerage firms or other nominees who indicate on their proxies that they do not have authority to vote the shares on Proposal 1 will not be counted as votes FOR or WITHHELD from any nominee. As a result, such “broker non-votes” will have no effect on the voting on Proposal 1. You may:

Votes that are withheld will not be included in the vote tally for the election of directors and will not affect the results of the vote.

Proposal 2 - Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Company present virtually or by proxy and entitled to vote on Proposal 2 will be required for the approval of Proposal 2. Proposal 2 is expected to be considered a discretionary matter. If your shares are held by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in “street name” and you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will have the authority to vote your shares on Proposal 2. To the extent that there are any broker non-votes, each such broker non-vote will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 2. If you ABSTAIN from voting on Proposal 2, you are still considered “entitled to vote” on the proposal. As a result, a vote to ABSTAIN will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the proposal.

Although stockholder approval of our audit committee’s appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026 is not required, we believe that it is advisable to give stockholders an opportunity to ratify this appointment. If this proposal is not approved at the Annual Meeting, our audit committee will reconsider its appointment of RSM US LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.

Proposal 3 - Advisory Vote on the Compensation Paid to Named Executive Officers

The affirmative vote of the holders of shares representing a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Company present virtually or by proxy and entitled to vote on Proposal 3 will be required for the approval of Proposal 3. Proposal 3 is not expected to be considered a discretionary matter. Therefore, if your shares are held by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in “street name” and you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee cannot vote your shares on Proposal 3. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 3. If you ABSTAIN from voting on Proposal 3, you are still considered “entitled to vote” on the proposal. As a result, a vote to ABSTAIN will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the proposal.

Proposal 3 is non-binding. Because this vote is advisory and not binding on us or our board of directors in any way, our board of directors may decide that it is in our and our stockholders’ best interests to compensate our named executive officers in an amount or manner that differs from that which is approved by our stockholders.

Proposal 4 - Adoption and Approval of an Amendment to Our Certificate of Incorporation to Effect a Reverse Stock Split

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast will be required for the adoption and approval of Proposal 4. Proposal 4 is expected to be considered a discretionary matter. If your shares are held by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in “street name” and you do not provide voting instructions with respect to your shares, we expect that your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will have the authority to vote your shares on Proposal 4. To the extent that there are any broker non-votes, each such broker non-vote will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 4. If you ABSTAIN from voting on Proposal 4, your shares will not be voted FOR or AGAINST the proposal and will also not be counted as votes cast on the proposal. As a result, votes to ABSTAIN will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 4.

Q. How does the board of directors recommend that I vote on the proposals?

A. Our board of directors recommends that you vote:

Q. Who will count the votes?

A. The votes will be counted and tabulated by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., and certified by The Carideo Group, our inspector of election.

Q. Will my vote be kept confidential?

A. Your vote will be kept confidential and we will not disclose your vote, unless (1) we are required to do so by law (including in connection with the pursuit or defense of a legal or administrative action or proceeding), or (2) there is a contested election for the board of directors. The inspector of election will forward any written comments that you make on the proxy card to management without providing your name, unless you expressly request disclosure on the proxy card.

Q. How can I find out the results of the voting at the Annual Meeting?

A. Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. Final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election and published in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC within four business days after the Annual Meeting.

Q. How do I submit a question at the Annual Meeting?

A. You will be able to submit your questions during the Annual Meeting by visiting the meeting website at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026, entering the 16-digit control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form and following the instructions on the website. Our Rules of Conduct and Procedures will address the ability of stockholders to ask questions during the meeting, including rules on permissible topics, and rules for how questions and comments will be recognized. Our Rules of Conduct and Procedures will be posted during the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CUE2026.

Q. Who is paying the costs of soliciting these proxies?

A. We will pay all of the costs of soliciting proxies. Our directors, officers and other employees may solicit proxies in person or by mail, telephone, fax or email. We will pay our directors, officers and other employees no additional compensation for these services. We will ask banks, brokerage firms and other nominees to forward these proxy materials to their principals and to obtain authority to execute proxies. We may reimburse them for their expenses. We may also utilize the assistance of third parties in connection with our proxy solicitation efforts, and we would compensate such third parties for their efforts. We have engaged one such third party, Alliance Advisors, to assist in the solicitation of proxies and provide related advice and informational support, for service fees of up to approximately $15,000. Alliance Advisors may solicit proxies by mail, telephone, email and in person.

Implications of Being a “Smaller Reporting Company”

We are a “smaller reporting company,” meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates was less than $700 million on the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter and our annual revenue was less than $100 million during our most recently completed fiscal year. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates was less than $250 million on the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter or (ii) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates was less than $700 million on the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. For so long as we remain a smaller reporting company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure and other requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not applicable to a smaller reporting company. We have taken advantage of certain reduced reporting obligations in this Proxy

Statement. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock.

PROPOSAL 1:

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our board of directors currently consists of seven members. Directors are elected at the annual meeting of stockholders and hold office for a one-year term and until their resignation or removal or their successors are duly elected and qualified. In accordance with our Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws, our directors may fill existing vacancies on the board of directors.

If no contrary indication is made, proxies will be voted for Dr. Azam, Dr. Kiener, Dr. Morich, Dr. Garzone, Mr. Verheyen, Ms. Broadfoot and Dr. Sarraf. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of individuals than the number of nominees named in this Proxy Statement. In the event that any of the nominees for director is not a candidate or is unable to serve as a director at the time of the election (which is not currently expected), your proxy will be voted for any nominee who is designated by our board of directors to fill the vacancy.

At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider the election of Dr. Azam and Ms. Broadfoot, who have been nominated for election as directors by our stockholders for the first time. Dr. Azam was appointed to our board of directors in September 2025, and Ms. Broadfoot was appointed to our board of directors in June 2025, in each case upon the recommendation of our corporate governance and nominating committee.

Our priority in selection of board members is identification of members who will further the interests of our stockholders through their established record of business acumen, the ability to contribute positively to the decision-making process of the Company, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape and a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. We also seek to have a diversity of skills and backgrounds represented on our board of directors. Re-nomination of our directors is not automatic, and performance on the board and committees is considered, as well as the undertaking of continuing director education. Certain individual qualifications and skills of our directors that contribute to the board of directors’ effectiveness as a whole are described in the following paragraphs.

Information Regarding Director Nominees

The following paragraphs provide information as of March 1, 2026 about each nominee for director, as furnished to us by the nominees for director. The information presented includes information each such individual has given us about his or her age, any position he or she holds with us, his or her principal occupation and business experience for the past five years and the names of other publicly held companies of which he or she currently serves as a director or has served as a director during the past five years. In addition to the information presented below regarding each such individual’s specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our board of directors to the conclusion that he or she should serve as a director, we also believe that each of our directors and director nominees has a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. Each has demonstrated business acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment of service to our company and our board of directors. Finally, we value their significant experience on other public company boards of directors and board committees.

Information about the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each of our directors and nominees for director appears below under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

There are no family relationships between or among any of our executive officers, directors or nominees for director.

Nominees for Election to the Board of Directors

Usman Azam, age 57, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director since September 2025. Dr. Azam previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Inspirna, Inc., a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused

on the discovery and development of novel cancer drugs, from March 2023 to September 2025. Prior to joining Inspirna, Dr. Azam served as Chief Executive Officer of Empyrean Neuroscience, a genetic engineering company advancing a pipeline of neuroactive compounds targeting disorders of the central nervous system, from January 2022 to March 2023. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tmunity Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company acquired by Kite Pharma, a Gilead company, where he was involved in the development of genetically engineered CAR-T cell therapies for solid tumor applications in cancer from December 2016 to January 2022. Dr. Azam also served in various senior research and development leadership roles in the United States and Switzerland at Novartis AG, a pharmaceutical company, from 2009 to 2016, including as Global Head of the Cell and Gene Therapies unit, where he helped deliver and launch the first-ever FDA approval for a CAR-T cell therapy in hematologic cancers. Earlier in his career, Dr. Azam held leadership roles across both innovative biotechnology and large pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Aspreva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Dr. Azam received his M.D. from the University of Liverpool School of Medicine and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology in the United Kingdom. Dr. Azam’s extensive leadership experience across biotechnology and global pharmaceutical organizations makes him well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Pasha Sarraf, age 56, joined our board of directors in March 2025 and was appointed as Chairman in June 2025. Dr. Sarraf has served as Principal at Upupa Advisory, a strategic advisory firm, since 2023. Dr. Sarraf previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and executive board member of Matterhorn Biosciences, a biotechnology company, from 2021 to 2023, where he built a supportive team and scaled the scientific effort to demonstrate the value of their T-cell receptors-based platform. Prior to joining Matterhorn Biosciences, Dr. Sarraf served as an Operating Partner of Flagship Pioneering, a venture capital company, from 2020 to 2021. There, he led a team at a portfolio company of Flagship Pioneering who discovered novel genetic circuits in Parkinson’s Disease, initiating a drug discovery program for an innovative target that was later licensed by GSK plc. Prior to joining Flagship Pioneering, Dr. Sarraf served as Senior Wall Street Analyst and Managing Director at Leerink Partners, formerly SVB Leerink. Prior to that, Dr. Sarraf joined McKinsey & Company in 2008 and served in various roles, including as Partner in the life sciences practice from 2015 through 2018, where he focused on strategy, diligence and forecasting. Dr. Sarraf is a member of the boards of directors of biotechnology companies PolarityBio and Praesidia Biotherapeutics, where he serves as Chairman. Dr. Sarraf obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. at Harvard Medical School and trained in internal medicine and rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and National Institutes of Health, focusing on vasculitis, scleroderma and genetic inflammatory disorders. Dr. Sarraf has authored over 50 publications and multiple patents for novel therapies and molecular targets. Dr. Sarraf’s extensive experience in the business of science and biotechnology makes him well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Peter A. Kiener, age 73, joined our board of directors in March 2016. Dr. Kiener served as the Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Research and Development of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Sucampo, a global biopharmaceutical company, from October 2014 to February 2018. Prior to joining Sucampo, Dr. Kiener served as the Chief Scientific Officer of Ambrx, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of antibody-drug conjugates, from 2013 to 2014. From 2009 to 2013, he was President and co-founder of Zyngenia Inc., an early-stage biopharmaceutical company. From 2001 to 2009, he was head of Research and R&D at MedImmune, the biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. Dr. Kiener is currently also a member of the board of directors of Peptone Switzerland AG and Ensocell Therapeutics. Dr. Kiener was a member of the board of directors of Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2018 through 2024, iTolerance, Inc. from 2021 through 2024 and Tetragenetics Inc. from 2018 through 2022. Dr. Kiener holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Lancaster and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Oxford. Dr. Kiener’s extensive executive leadership experience and his in-depth knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry make him well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Frank Morich, age 72, joined our board of directors in July 2018 and served as our Chairman from April 2020 to June 2025. Dr. Morich has served as a consultant in the life sciences and health care industries since 2015. Since 2023, Dr. Morich has served on the board of Perspective Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Morich was a member of the supervisory board of MorphoSys AG, a late-stage, biopharmaceutical company, from 2015 to 2021. From 2011 to 2014, Dr. Morich served as Chief Commercial Officer at Takeda Pharmaceutical, a global pharmaceutical company, and from 2010 to 2011, he served as Executive Vice President International Operations at Takeda. From 2008 to 2010, Dr. Morich served as Chief Executive Officer of NOXXON Pharma AG, a clinical-stage drug development company, and from 2005 to 2007 he served as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of Innogenetics N.V., an international in vitro diagnostics company. During 2004, Dr. Morich served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of AM Pharma B.V., a clinical-stage drug development company. Prior to that, Dr. Morich held several positions at Bayer, a global pharmaceutical and life sciences company, including member of the board of management of Bayer AG, head of global product development and head of research and development. Dr. Morich graduated in medical studies at the University of Marburg, Germany. Dr. Morich has over 35 years of experience in the life sciences and health care industries and extensive executive leadership experience, making him well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Pamela D. Garzone, age 71, joined our board of directors in April 2023. Dr. Garzone has served as the Chief Development Officer at Anixa Biosciences, Inc., a company focused on oncology and infectious diseases, since September 2021. Prior to joining Anixa, Dr. Garzone served as the Chief Medical Officer at Calibr, a division of the Scripps Research Institute from May 2019 to May 2021. From May 2009 through May 2019, Dr. Garzone served as the Vice President, Group Asset Team Lead focused on early oncology clinical research at Pfizer Inc. Dr. Garzone earned a B.S. degree in pharmacy from Purdue University and an M.S. in pharmacy practice from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Garzone received her Ph.D. in clinical science from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Garzone’s extensive knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry in general, and drug development in particular, makes her well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Patrick Verheyen, age 66, joined our board of directors in April 2023. Mr. Verheyen served as the Global Head of Janssen Business Development at Johnson & Johnson, a healthcare products company, from 2015 through 2021. Mr. Verheyen also served as a member of the Janssen’s Pharmaceuticals Group Operating Committee during this time. Mr. Verheyen joined Johnson & Johnson in 1986 and served in various roles, including as Head of London Johnson & Johnson Innovation Center from 2012 through 2015. Mr. Verheyen received a degree in bioengineering from the University of Leuven in Flanders, Belgium. Mr. Verheyen has over 35 years of experience in the health care industry and extensive executive leadership experience, making him well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Jill Broadfoot, age 64, joined our board of directors in June 2025. Ms. Broadfoot has served as Chief Financial Officer of aTyr Pharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, since July 2018. Prior to aTyr Pharma, Ms. Broadfoot served as Chief Financial Officer of Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Emerald Health Bioceuticals Inc., where she was responsible for establishing operations for the U.S.-based pharmaceutical and bioceutical entities as well as the establishment of operations, corporate governance, finance and accounting, information technology and investor relations functions, among others. Prior to Emerald Health, Ms. Broadfoot served as Vice President, U.S. Corporate Controller at GW Pharmaceuticals, where her responsibilities included establishing U.S. commercial operations, overseeing information technology, and implementing U.S. public company financial and accounting standards in connection with the transfer of corporate operations from the U.K. to the U.S. Prior to joining GW Pharmaceuticals, Ms. Broadfoot served as Chief Financial Officer of Vical Inc. where she had oversight of finance, investor relations, manufacturing, information technology, human resources, and business development. Prior to that, Ms. Broadfoot held various positions at DJO Global, Inc., most recently as Vice President of Finance, and served as an audit manager at Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. Broadfoot serves on the board of directors of Talphera, Inc., a biotechnology company. She previously served on the board of directors of Otonomy, Inc. and Angiocrine Biosciences, Inc., both biotechnology companies. Ms. Broadfoot holds a B.S. in business administration and accounting from San Diego State University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Ms. Broadfoot’s extensive experience in the biotechnology industry and her background in accounting and finance make her well qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF DR. AZAM, DR. SARRAF, DR. KIENER, DR. MORICH, DR. GARZONE, MR. VERHEYEN AND MS. BROADFOOT.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

General

We believe that good corporate governance is important to ensure that Cue Biopharma is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders. This section describes key corporate governance practices that we have adopted. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics, which applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, and corporate governance guidelines and charters for our audit committee, our compensation committee and our corporate governance and nominating committee. We have posted copies of our code of business conduct and ethics and corporate governance guidelines, as well as each of our committee charters, on the Corporate Governance page of the “Investors” section of our website, www.cuebiopharma.com, which you can access free of charge. Information contained on the website is not incorporated by reference in, or considered part of, this Proxy Statement. We intend to disclose on our website any amendments to, or waivers from, our code of business conduct and ethics that are required to be disclosed by law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, or the Nasdaq Listing Rules. We will also provide copies of these documents, as well as certain of our other corporate governance documents, free of charge, to any stockholder upon written request to Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Our board of directors has adopted corporate governance guidelines to assist in the exercise of its duties and responsibilities and to serve the best interests of Cue Biopharma and our stockholders. These guidelines, which provide a framework for the conduct of our board’s business, provide that:

Director Independence

The Nasdaq Listing Rules require a majority of a listed company’s board of directors to be composed of independent directors within one year of listing. In addition, the Nasdaq Listing Rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and corporate governance and nominating committees be independent under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and compensation committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a director will only qualify as an “independent director” if, in the opinion of the listed company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his or her capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors, or any other board committee, accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10C-1, the board must consider, for each member of a compensation committee of a listed company, all factors specifically relevant to determining whether a director has a relationship to such company which is material to that director’s ability to be independent from management in connection with the duties of a compensation committee member, including, but not limited to: (1) the source of compensation of the director, including any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee paid by such company to the director; and (2) whether the director is affiliated with the company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

In March 2026, our board of directors undertook a review of the composition of our board of directors and its committees and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our board of directors has determined that each of our directors, with the exception of Dr. Azam, is an “independent director” as defined under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In April 2025, our board of directors made a similar determination that Frederick Driscoll, who served on our board of directors until June 2025,

was an independent director. In making such determinations, our board of directors considered the relationships that each such director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances that our board of directors deemed relevant in determining his or her independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each director. Dr. Azam is not an independent director under these rules because he is our president and chief executive officer. Daniel R. Passeri, who served on our board of directors until September 2025 when he retired from his role of chief executive officer, was not an independent director under these rules because he was our chief executive officer.

Board Leadership Structure

Our board of directors, upon the recommendation of our corporate governance and nominating committee, has determined that the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer should remain separate at the current time. Accordingly, our board of directors has appointed Dr. Sarraf, an independent director within the meaning of the Nasdaq Listing Rules (see “Director Independence” above), as the chairman of the board of directors. Dr. Sarraf possesses an in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges that our company faces. We believe he is currently the person best positioned to ensure our board of directors’ time and attention is focused on the matters that are most critical to our company. Our board of directors believes Dr. Sarraf is a decisive leader who commands accountability and enhances our ability to communicate our message and strategy clearly and consistently to stockholders, employees and strategic partners. Dr. Sarraf’s duties as chairman of the board include the following:

Our board of directors believes that having a leadership structure with separate roles of chairman and chief executive officer offers the following benefits:

Although the roles of chairman and chief executive officer are currently separate, our corporate governance and nominating committee and board of directors believe it is appropriate for our chief executive officer to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Director Nomination Process

Director Qualifications

In evaluating director nominees, the corporate governance and nominating committee will consider among other things the following factors:

The corporate governance and nominating committee’s goal is to assemble a board of directors that brings to the company a variety of perspectives and skills derived from high quality business and professional experience. Moreover, the corporate governance and nominating committee believes that the background and qualifications of the board of directors, considered as a group, should provide a significant mix of experience, knowledge and abilities that will allow the board of directors to fulfill its responsibilities. Nominees are not discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis proscribed by law.

Our priority in selection of board members is identification of members who will further the interests of our stockholders through their established record of business acumen, the ability to contribute positively to the decision-making process of the Company, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape and a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. While we have no formal policy regarding board diversity, our corporate governance guidelines provide that the background and qualifications of the members of our board of directors considered as a group should provide a significant breadth of experience, knowledge, and ability to assist our board of directors in fulfilling its responsibilities. Our directors’ performance and qualification criteria are reviewed periodically by the corporate governance and nominating committee.

Identification and Evaluation of Nominees for Directors

The corporate governance and nominating committee identifies nominees for director by first evaluating the current members of our board of directors willing to continue in service. Current members with qualifications and skills that are consistent with the corporate governance and nominating committee’s criteria for board of director service and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of our board of directors with that of obtaining a new perspective or expertise.

The committee generally inquires of our board of directors and members of management for their recommendations. The committee may also review the composition and qualification of the boards of directors of our competitors, and may seek input from industry experts or analysts. The corporate governance and nominating committee reviews the qualifications, experience and background of candidates. Final candidates, if other than our current directors, would be interviewed by the members of the corporate governance and nominating committee and by certain of our other independent directors and executive management. In making its determinations, the corporate governance and nominating committee evaluates each individual in the context of our board of directors as a whole, with the objective of assembling a group that can best contribute to the success of our company and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment. After review and deliberation of all feedback and data, the corporate governance and nominating committee makes its recommendation to our board of directors. The corporate governance and nominating committee may use a third party search firm in those situations where particular qualifications are required or where existing contacts are not sufficient to identify an appropriate candidate.

Stockholders may recommend individuals to our corporate governance and nominating committee for consideration as potential director candidates by submitting a recommendation in writing including:

Recommendations must be sent to the Chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, c/o Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135. Assuming that appropriate biographical and background materials have been provided on or before the dates set forth in the section below entitled “Stockholder Proposals for our 2027 Annual Meeting,” the committee will evaluate stockholder recommended candidates by following substantially the same process, and applying substantially the same criteria, as it follows for candidates by others, as described above.

Communications with Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors will give appropriate attention to written communications that are submitted by stockholders and will respond if and as appropriate. The chairman of the board of directors is primarily responsible for monitoring communications from stockholders and for providing copies or summaries to the other directors as he or she considers appropriate.

Communications are forwarded to all directors if they relate to important substantive matters and include suggestions or comments that the chairman of the board considers to be important for the directors to know. In general, communications relating to corporate governance and corporate strategy are more likely to be forwarded than communications relating to ordinary business affairs, personal grievances and matters as to which we receive repetitive or duplicative communications.

Stockholders who wish to send communications on any topic to our board of directors should address such communications to Secretary, Cue Biopharma, Inc., 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135.

Board Meetings and Attendance

Our board of directors met ten times during our fiscal year 2025, including telephonic meetings. During the year, each of our directors attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the board of directors and the committees on which he or she served (in each case, which were held during the period for which he or she was a director and/or a member of the applicable committee).

Director Attendance at Annual Meeting

Although our company does not have a formal policy regarding attendance by members of our board of directors at our annual meeting, we encourage all of our directors to attend. For our annual meeting of stockholders in 2025, all of our directors who were then serving on our board of directors were in attendance.

Board Committees

Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee, a corporate governance and nominating committee, and a science and technology strategy committee, each of which operates under a charter that has been approved by our board. A copy of the audit committee, compensation committee and corporate governance and nominating committee charters can be found under the “Investors - Corporate Governance” section of our website, which is located at www.cuebiopharma.com.

Audit Committee

The members of our audit committee are Jill Broadfoot, Frank Morich and Patrick Verheyen. Ms. Broadfoot is the chair of the audit committee. Mr. Driscoll served as a member of and the chair of the audit committee until he retired from our board of directors in June 2025. Our audit committee’s responsibilities include:

All audit and non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance by our audit committee.

Our audit committee held four meetings during 2025. Our board of directors has determined that Ms. Broadfoot is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules. We believe that the composition of our audit committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. Our board of directors has also determined that each member of our audit committee can read and understand fundamental financial statements, in accordance with applicable requirements.

Compensation Committee

The members of our compensation committee are Peter A. Kiener, Pamela Garzone and Patrick Verheyen. Dr. Kiener is the chair of the compensation committee. Our compensation committee’s responsibilities include:

The compensation committee has the authority to engage independent legal counsel, independent consultants and other advisors to review any matter under its responsibility. The compensation committee may form, and delegate authority to, subcommittees when it deems appropriate. We believe that the composition of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. Our compensation committee held seven meetings during 2025.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

The members of our corporate governance and nominating committee are Frank Morich, Peter A. Kiener, Jill Broadfoot and Pasha Sarraf. Dr. Morich is the chair of the corporate governance and nominating committee. Mr. Driscoll served as a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee until he retired from our board of directors in June 2025. Our corporate governance and nominating committee’s responsibilities include:

We believe that the composition of our corporate governance and nominating committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. The corporate governance and nominating committee held four meetings during 2025.

Science and Technology Strategy Committee

The members of our science and technology strategy committee are Peter A. Kiener, Frank Morich, Pasha Sarraf, and Pamela Garzone. Dr. Kiener is the chair of the science and technology strategy committee. Our science and technology strategy committee’s responsibilities include:

The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

Our board of directors is actively involved in oversight of risks that could affect us. Our board of directors oversees our risk management processes directly and through its committees. Our management is responsible for risk management on a day-to-day basis. The role of our board of directors and its committees is to oversee the risk management activities of management. Our board of directors fulfills this duty by discussing with management the policies and practices utilized by management in assessing and managing risks and providing input on those policies and practices.

In general, our board of directors oversees risk management activities relating to business strategy, acquisitions, capital allocation, organizational structure and certain operational risks. Our audit committee oversees risk management activities related to financial controls and legal and compliance risks, including oversight over cybersecurity risk. Oversight by our audit committee includes direct communications with our independent registered public accounting firm. Our compensation committee oversees risk management activities relating to our compensation policies and practices and assessing whether any of our compensation policies or programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. Oversight by our compensation committee includes direct communication with our independent compensation consultants. Our corporate governance and nominating committee oversees risk management activities relating to management succession planning, the composition of our board of directors and its committees, corporate governance and compliance. Our science and technology strategy committee

assists the board of directors’ oversight of our scientific research and development strategies. Each committee reports to the full board of directors on a regular basis, including reports with respect to the committee’s risk oversight activities as appropriate. In addition, since risk issues often overlap, committees from time to time request that the full board of directors discuss particular risks.

Insider Trading Policy

We have adopted an insider trading policy governing the purchase, sale and/or other dispositions of our securities by our directors, officers, employees and other covered persons. We believe the insider trading policy is reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and Nasdaq listing standards. A copy of our insider trading policy is filed as Exhibit 19.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. It is also our policy that we engage in transactions only in accordance with applicable U.S. securities laws, including those related to insider trading.

Employee, Officer and Director Hedging and Pledging

Pursuant to our insider trading policy, our directors, officers, employees and/or consultants, as well as any immediate family members sharing the household of any of the foregoing, are prohibited from engaging in transactions in publicly traded options, such as puts, calls and other derivative securities, relating to our company. This prohibition also extends to various forms of hedging transactions or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sale contracts, as they involve the establishment of a short position in our securities. In addition, our insider trading policy prohibits such persons from holding our securities in a margin account or pledging such securities as collateral for a loan, with an exception in limited situations only with the preapproval of our chief financial and business officer and, in the case of directors and executive officers, the audit committee.

Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plans

Certain of our directors and executive officers have adopted and may in the future adopt written plans, known as Rule 10b5-1 plans, in which they will contract with a broker to buy or sell shares of our common stock on a periodic basis. Under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, a broker executes trades pursuant to parameters established by the director or officer when entering into the plan, without further direction from the director or officer. The director or officer may amend or terminate the plan in some circumstances. Our directors and executive officers may also buy or sell additional shares outside of a Rule 10b5-1 plan when they are not in possession of material, nonpublic information.

Policies and Practices Related to the Grant of Equity Awards

Director Compensation

We maintain a compensation policy for our non-employee directors that is intended to enable us to attract and retain, on a long-term basis, highly qualified non-employee directors. Pursuant to our director compensation policy, our non-employee directors receive on an annual basis a $35,000 retainer paid in cash. In addition, the chairman of the board, if he or she is a non-employee

director, receives an annual cash retainer of $30,000 and standing committee members receive the annual committee fees set forth below.

Upon initial appointment to the board of directors, a non-employee director is awarded an option to purchase 48,800 shares of common stock that vest over three years with one-third vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the balance vesting in eight equal quarterly installments. On the first trading day following December 31 of each year, each non-employee director is awarded an option to purchase 24,400 shares of common stock, or, collectively, the annual director awards. Such annual director awards have historically vested and become exercisable as to 50% of the underlying shares on the six-month anniversary of the grant date and as to the remaining 50% on the first anniversary of the grant date. Effective December 3, 2025, our board of directors amended our director compensation policy to change the vesting of the annual director awards to fully vest on the first anniversary of the grant date.

Usman Azam, a director who also serves as our president and chief executive officer, does not receive any additional compensation for his service as director. Dr. Azam is one of our named executive officers and accordingly, the compensation we pay to Dr. Azam is discussed under “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table” and “Executive Compensation—Narrative to Summary Compensation Table.”

The table below shows all compensation to our non-employee directors, including compensation for their services as a member or a chair of one of our standing committees, during the year ended December 31, 2025.

The following table shows the number of shares subject to outstanding option awards held by each non-employee director as of December 31, 2025:

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

Our Certificate of Incorporation limits the personal liability of directors for breach of fiduciary duty to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law and provides that no director will have personal liability to us or to our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Any amendment to or repeal of these provisions will not eliminate or reduce the effect of these provisions in respect of any act, omission or claim that occurred or arose prior to such amendment or repeal. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to provide for further limitations on the personal liability of directors of corporations, then the personal liability of our directors will be further limited to the greatest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.

In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we must indemnify our directors and officers and we must advance expenses to our directors and officers in connection with legal proceedings.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, executive officers or persons controlling us, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Report of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

The audit committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the board of directors. We have reviewed the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and discussed them with Company management and RSM US LLP, or RSM, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

We have received from, and discussed with, RSM, which is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, its judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company’s accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the audit committee under generally accepted auditing standards, including the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, and the SEC. In addition, we have received from RSM the written disclosures and the letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding its communications with us concerning independence, have considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence and have discussed with RSM its independence from management and the Company.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, we recommended to the board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

This report of the audit committee is not “soliciting material,” shall not be deemed “filed” with the SEC and shall not be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

The foregoing report has been furnished by the audit committee.

Respectfully submitted,

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

Jill Broadfoot (Chair)

Frank Morich

Patrick Verheyen

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of March 1, 2026:

Usman Azam is discussed above under “Information Regarding Director Nominees.”

Colin G. Sandercock has been our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since December 2017. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, he was a partner at Perkins Coie LLP from July 2010 to December 2017, practicing in the areas of patent litigation, procurement, management and enforcement of domestic and foreign patent portfolio, licensing disputes, trademark disputes, and opinions relating to infringement, validity and freedom to operate. Mr. Sandercock holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Mathematics from Moravian College, a Materials Science & Engineering (M.S.E.) degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law.

Lucinda Warren has been our Chief Financial and Business Officer since February 2026. Prior to that, she served as our Chief Business Officer from September 2024 until February 2026. She has over 30 years of global experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Prior to joining Cue Biopharma, she served as vice president of business development for Neuroscience and Japan Regionally at Johnson & Johnson, a healthcare products company, from 2014 to 2024, where she was responsible for end-to-end business development, including licensing, mergers and acquisitions, and alliance management. Ms. Warren previously held significant roles at Janssen Cilag Australia and Janssen Biologics, where she led business units and managed global transitions. She currently serves as chairman of the board of International School Services. Ms. Warren holds a B.S. in biological sciences with a minor in neurology from the University of Alberta.

Daniel G. Baker has been our Interim Chief Development Officer since November 2024. Dr. Baker has over 20 years of drug development experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Baker is the founder of Kira Therapeutics, a biotechnology company, where he has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2019. He also served as an Executive Director on the board of Galapagos NV, a publicly traded biotechnology company, from April 2022 until October 2024. From 2000 to 2019, he served as Vice President, Immunology R&D at Johnson & Johnson's Janssen/Centocor division, which is now part of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, where his responsibilities included clinical development of Remicade, Simponi and Stelara, as well as other major clinical drug programs. His supervision and oversight of numerous Phase 1 to 3 clinical trials in multiple disease areas led to more than 15 regulatory approvals in the U.S., Europe and Japan. In 2015, Dr. Baker assumed the role of Disease Area Stronghold Leader, where he was responsible for Phase 2 and 3 clinical trial development plans for rheumatology products and the overall portfolio strategy in rheumatology and immunology. Dr. Baker received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his residency at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and his fellowship in rheumatology and immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a research fellowship in rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Our compensation philosophy is to offer our executive officers compensation and benefits that are competitive and meet our goals of attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled management, which is necessary to achieve our financial and strategic objectives and create long-term value for our stockholders. We believe the levels of compensation we provide should be competitive, reasonable and appropriate for our business needs and circumstances. The principal elements of our executive compensation program have to date included base salary, bonus and long-term equity compensation in the form of stock options. We believe successful long-term company performance is more critical to enhancing stockholder value than short-term results. For this reason and to conserve cash and better align the interests of management and our stockholders, we emphasize long-term performance-based equity compensation over base annual salaries and annual bonuses.

Our executive compensation program is administered by our compensation committee, subject to the oversight and approval of our full board of directors. Our compensation committee reviews our executive compensation practices on an annual basis and based on this review approves or, as appropriate, makes recommendations to our board of directors for approval of our executive compensation program. Our chief executive officer recommends annual executive salary increases, annual equity awards and bonuses, if any, for the other executive officers, which are then reviewed and approved or adjusted by the compensation committee.

In designing our executive compensation program, our compensation committee considers publicly available compensation data for national and regional companies in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry to help guide its executive compensation decisions at the time of hiring and for subsequent adjustments in compensation. In 2024 and 2025, our compensation committee retained Radford, an AON Hewitt company, as its independent compensation consultant to provide comparative data on executive compensation practices in our industry and to advise on our executive compensation program generally. The compensation committee also retained Radford for recommendations and review of non-employee director compensation in 2024 and 2025. Although our compensation committee considers the advice and recommendations of Radford as to our executive compensation program, our compensation committee ultimately makes their own decisions about these matters. In the future, we expect that our compensation committee will continue to engage independent compensation consultants to provide additional guidance on our executive compensation programs and to conduct further competitive benchmarking against a peer group of publicly traded companies.

This section describes the material elements of compensation awarded to, or earned by or paid to, our named executive officers:

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to each of our named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.

Narrative to Summary Compensation Table

Base Salary. We use base salaries to recognize the experience, skills, knowledge and responsibilities required of all our employees, including our named executive officers. None of our named executive officers are currently party to an employment agreement or other agreement or arrangement that provides for automatic or scheduled increases in base salary.

In March 2025, the board of directors increased the annual base salary, effective January 1, 2025, for Ms. Warren, Dr. Levisetti and Mr. Sandercock to $469,952, $499,928 and $448,646, respectively. In July 2024, Mr. Passeri voluntarily offered and agreed to be paid $311,100, which represented half of his annual base salary for 2024. He voluntarily offered and agreed to continue to be paid this amount in 2025.

In December 2025, the board of directors increased the annual base salary, effective January 1, 2026, for Dr. Azam, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Sandercock to $644,800, $489,060, and $466,642 respectively.

Annual Bonus. Our board of directors may, in its discretion, award bonuses to our named executive officers from time to time. Our employment agreements with our named executive officers provide that they will be eligible for annual performance-based bonuses up to a specified percentage of their salary, subject to approval by our board of directors. We typically establish annual bonus targets based around a set of specified corporate goals for our named executive officers and conduct an annual performance review to determine the attainment of such goals. Our management may propose bonus awards to our compensation committee primarily based on such review process. Our board of directors makes the final determination of the eligibility requirements for and the amount of such bonus awards based on the recommendation of the compensation committee. The final evaluation made by our board of directors does not involve a predetermined mathematical formula.

Target bonuses as a percentage of annual base salary for 2024 were 50% for Mr. Passeri and 40% for Dr. Levisetti.

For 2024, the categories of corporate goals that we used to propose performance-based bonuses to our compensation committee included corporate strategy, advancing our portfolio and platform, clinical development, corporate development, financing, and organizational effectiveness. Based on our achievement or partial achievement, on or before our projected timeline, of specific goals within each category, the board of directors determined that we achieved 80% of the specified corporate goals for 2024. The board of directors approves performance-based bonuses for our named executive officers upon consideration of these corporate achievements, along with subjective factors related to each named executive officer’s individual performance, responsibilities and then-existing compensation levels. With respect to 2024, the board of directors awarded bonuses of $186,660 and $114,816 to Mr. Passeri and Dr. Levisetti, respectively, in each case based on achievement of corporate goals in 2024, with such amount representing 60% of each such officer’s performance bonus target for 2024.

Target bonuses as a percentage of annual base salary for 2025 for Dr. Azam, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Sandercock were 50%, 40% and 40%, respectively. Mr. Passeri and Dr. Levisetti were not eligible to receive a 2025 bonus due to their respective departures from the Company in September 2025 and November 2025.

For 2025, Dr. Azam, Ms. Warren and Mr. Sandercock voluntarily agreed to forego any annual performance-based bonus awards. As of March 2026, target bonuses as a percentage of annual base salary for 2026 for Dr. Azam, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Sandercock remained at 50%, 40% and 40%, respectively.

Equity Incentives. Although we do not have a formal policy with respect to the grant of equity incentive awards to our executive officers, or any formal equity ownership guidelines applicable to them, we believe that equity grants provide our executives with a strong link to our long-term performance, create an ownership culture and help to align the interests of our executives and our stockholders. In addition, we believe that equity grants with a time-based vesting feature promote executive retention because this feature incents our executive officers to remain in our employment during the vesting period. Accordingly, our board of directors periodically reviews the equity incentive compensation of our named executive officers and generally plans to annually grant equity incentive awards to them in the form of stock option awards. In addition to our annual grants to current employees, we typically grant stock option awards at the start of employment to each executive and our other employees. We have retained discretion to provide additional targeted grants in certain circumstances.

We typically award our stock options on the date our board of directors approves the grant. We set the option exercise price and grant-date fair value based on our per-share estimated valuation on the date of grant. For grants in connection with initial employment, vesting begins on the initial date of employment. Time vested stock option grants to our executives and other employees granted under our 2025 Stock Incentive Plan, or the 2025 Plan, typically vest over four years, with the option vesting with respect to 25% of the shares underlying the award on the first anniversary of the grant date, and the balance vesting in equal semi-annual installments thereafter.

In March 2024, we granted an option to purchase 400,000 shares of our common stock to Mr. Passeri at an exercise price of $1.94. Such option was scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning September 6, 2024. Pursuant to the Passeri Separation Agreement and Passeri Advisor Agreement (each as defined below), vesting of 100,000 shares underlying the option was accelerated, the option will continue to vest until the expiration of the Passeri Advisor Agreement, and the option will remain exercisable until its expiration.

In March 2024 and June 2024, we granted options to purchase 260,000 and 125,000 shares of our common stock, respectively, to Dr. Levisetti at an exercise price of $1.94 and $1.65, respectively. Such options were scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning September 6, 2024 and December 5, 2024, respectively. Vesting of these options ceased upon Dr. Levisetti’s departure.

In March 2025, we granted options to purchase 250,000 and 200,000 shares of our common stock to Ms. Warren and Mr. Sandercock, respectively, at an exercise price of $0.99. Such options vest in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning September 21, 2025.

In March 2025, we granted an option to purchase 450,000 shares of our common stock to Mr. Passeri, at an exercise price of $0.99. Such option vests in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning September 21, 2025. Pursuant to the Passeri Separation Agreement and Passeri Advisor Agreement, vesting of 337,500 shares underlying the option was accelerated, the option will continue to vest until the expiration of the Passeri Advisor Agreement, and the option will remail exercisable until its expiration.

In March 2025, we granted an option to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock to Dr. Levisetti, at an exercise price of $0.99. Such option was scheduled to vest in eight equal semi-annual installments beginning September 21, 2025. Vesting of the option ceased upon Dr. Levisetti’s departure.

In September 2025, we granted an option to purchase 125,000 shares of our common stock to Ms. Warren, at an exercise price of $0.72. Such option fully vests on the first anniversary of the grant date. In September 2025, we also granted an option to purchase 1,875,000 shares of common stock to Dr. Azam, at an exercise price of $0.72, in connection with his appointment as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Such option vests in forty-eight equal monthly installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date. In addition, in September 2025, we also granted options to purchase 375,000 shares of common stock to each of Dr. Azam and Mr. Passeri, at an exercise price of $0.72. Such options fully vest if the Company timely achieves a specified financing milestone.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End 2025

The following table sets forth information regarding all outstanding stock options held by each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2025.

Employment Agreements

The following is a summary of the employment arrangements with our named executive officers.

Usman Azam. We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Azam effective September 29, 2025 in connection with his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, or the Azam Employment Agreement. The term of the Azam Employment Agreement continues on a year-to-year basis unless terminated sooner pursuant to its terms.

Dr. Azam's current annual base salary is $644,800, and he is eligible for an annual incentive bonus of up to 50% of his base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by our board of directors or our compensation committee.

If Dr. Azam's employment is terminated due to his death or disability, Dr. Azam will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any annual bonus for the year prior to the year in which such termination occurs that is earned but unpaid prior to the date of termination, to be paid pro-rata for the period of time from the start of the year to the date of termination from employment (or, if applicable, to the start of the disability), (iii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination and (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Dr. Azam is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant. If Dr. Azam's employment is terminated without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the Azam Employment Agreement), he will be entitled to receive each of the benefits described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(iv) and, (a) subject to the terms and provisions of the Azam Employment Agreement, a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the sum of (1) 12 months of base salary plus (2) the target annual bonus for the year of termination, prorated based on the number of days that Dr. Azam is employed in such year through the date of termination, and (b) subject to the terms and provisions of the Azam Employment Agreement, if Dr. Azam elects COBRA coverage for health and/or dental insurance in a timely manner, monthly premium payments for such coverage until the earliest of: (1) 12 months from termination; (2) the expiration of the term of the Azam Employment Agreement; (3) the date he obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental coverage that is reasonably comparable to that offered by us; or (4) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate. If Dr. Azam's employment is terminated for Cause or he resigns without Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, and (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Dr. Azam is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant. Any severance to which Dr. Azam may be entitled pursuant to the Azam Employment Agreement is subject to his timely execution and non-revocation of a release agreement with us.

Under the Azam Employment Agreement, Dr. Azam is subject to confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that survive the term of his employment.

Daniel Passeri. We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Passeri effective August 29, 2016, which was subsequently amended and restated on October 3, 2019, February 10, 2020, and March 4, 2021, or, as so amended and restated, the Passeri

Employment Agreement. The term of the Passeri Employment Agreement continued until Mr. Passeri resigned from his role as Chief Executive Officer, effective as of September 29, 2025.

On September 27, 2025, we entered into a separation and release of claims agreement, or the Passeri Separation Agreement, and an advisor agreement, or the Passeri Advisor Agreement, with Mr. Passeri. Pursuant to the Passeri Separation Agreement, Mr. Passeri received, subject to his execution of the Passeri Advisor Agreement and his continued compliance with his obligations under the Passeri Separation Agreement, including certain restrictive covenants, (i) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to $838,750, less all applicable taxes and withholdings, which represents (a) 12 months of the base salary Mr. Passeri was receiving immediately prior to the voluntary 50% reduction in base salary he agreed to on July 24, 2024, as previously disclosed by us, plus (b) a portion of his target 2025 annual discretionary bonus, prorated based on the number of days that he was employed in 2025 through the date of termination; (ii) continued payment by us of the full premiums for group health insurance coverage under COBRA commencing on September 29, 2025 and continuing until the earliest of (a) March 29, 2027, (b) the date Mr. Passeri obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental insurance that is reasonably comparable to that offered by us or (c) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate in accordance with the provisions of COBRA; and (iii) with respect to 100% of Mr. Passeri’s stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and restricted shares in each case that are issued and outstanding under our equity compensation plans, or collectively, the Passeri Equity Awards, (a) acceleration of the time vesting by a period of 12 months and (b) the ability to exercise the Passeri Equity Awards, as applicable, until the date on which those Passeri Equity Awards expire. Under the Passeri Separation Agreement, Mr. Passeri is subject to confidentiality and noncompetition provisions.

Pursuant to the Passeri Advisor Agreement, Mr. Passeri will serve as a strategic advisor by assisting with the transition of his duties and providing other strategic advice and assistance, as requested from time to time by us. In compensation for his services as an advisor, we granted a stock option to purchase up to 375,000 shares of our common stock to Mr. Passeri, which option will fully vest and become exercisable in its entirety if we timely achieve a specified financing milestone. In addition, during the period in which the Passeri Advisor Agreement remains in effect, all of the Passeri Equity Awards will continue to vest and be exercisable in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity award agreements and the applicable stock incentive plan. The term of the Passeri Advisor Agreement will continue until March 30, 2026 unless both parties mutually agree to extend the term.

Lucinda Warren. We entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Warren effective September 1, 2024 in connection with her appointment as Chief Business Officer, which was subsequently amended on December 30, 2025 and February 9, 2026, or, as so amended, the Warren Employment Agreement, when she was appointed as Chief Financial and Business Officer. The term of the Warren Employment Agreement continues until September 30, 2026, unless the term is extended or terminated sooner pursuant to its terms.

Ms. Warren's current annual base salary is $489,060, and she is eligible for an annual incentive bonus of up to 40% of her base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by our board of directors or our compensation committee.

If Ms. Warren's employment is terminated due to her death or disability, Ms. Warren will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any annual bonus for the year prior to the year in which such termination occurs that is earned but unpaid prior to the date of termination, to be paid pro-rata for the period of time from the start of the year to the date of termination from employment (or, if applicable, to the start of the disability), (iii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination and (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Ms. Warren is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant. If Ms. Warren's employment is terminated without Cause or she resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the Warren Employment Agreement), she will be entitled to receive each of the benefits described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(iv) and, (a) subject to the terms and provisions of the Warren Employment Agreement, a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to the sum of (1) the lesser of (A) 9 months of base salary and (B) the base salary that Ms. Warren would have received had she remained employed for the remainder of the term of the Warren Employment Agreement, which term ends on September 30, 2026, plus (2) the target annual bonus for the year of termination, prorated based on the number of days that Ms. Warren is employed in such year through the date of termination, and (b) subject to the terms and provisions of the Warren Employment Agreement, if Ms. Warren elects COBRA coverage for health and/or dental insurance in a timely manner, monthly premium payments for such coverage until the earliest of: (1) 3 months from the termination date; (2) the expiration of the term of the Warren Employment Agreement; (3) the date she obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental insurance that is reasonably comparable to that offered by us; or (4) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate. If Ms. Warren's employment is terminated for Cause or she resigns without Good Reason, she will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination and (iii) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Ms. Warren is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant. Any

severance to which Ms. Warren may be entitled pursuant to the Warren Employment Agreement is subject to her timely execution and non-revocation of a release agreement with us.

Under the Warren Employment Agreement, Ms. Warren is subject to confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that survive the term of her employment.

Matteo Levisetti. We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Levisetti effective January 25, 2021 in connection with his appointment as Senior Vice President of Clinical Development, which was subsequently amended and restated on January 17, 2023, or, as so amended and restated, the Levisetti Employment Agreement, when he was appointed to the position of Chief Medical Officer. The term of the Levisetti Employment Agreement continued until Dr. Levisetti’s employment terminated, effective as of November 28, 2025.

On November 19, 2025, we entered into a separation and release of claims agreement, or the Levisetti Separation Agreement, with Dr. Levisetti. Pursuant to the Levisetti Separation Agreement, subject to his continued compliance with his obligations under the Levisetti Separation Agreement, Dr. Levisetti received severance benefits substantially consistent with those previously disclosed severance benefits set forth in the Levisetti Employment Agreement payable in connection with a termination without cause, including (i) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to $556,837.60, less all applicable taxes and withholdings, which represents (a) nine months of Dr. Levisetti’s base salary, plus (b) a prorated portion of his target 2025 annual bonus, based on the number of days that he was employed in 2025; and (ii) continued payment by us of the full premiums for group health insurance coverage under COBRA commencing on November 28, 2025 and continuing until the earliest of (a) August 28, 2026, (b) the date Dr. Levisetti obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental insurance that is reasonably comparable to that offered by the Company and (c) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate in accordance with the provisions of COBRA. Under the Levisetti Separation Agreement, Dr. Levisetti is subject to confidentiality provisions.

Colin Sandercock. We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Sandercock effective November 15, 2017 in connection with his appointment as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, or the Sandercock Employment Agreement. The term of the Sandercock Employment Agreement continues on a year-to-year basis unless terminated sooner pursuant to its terms.

Mr. Sandercock's current annual base salary is $466,642, and he is eligible for an annual incentive bonus of up to 40% of his base salary based upon achievement of performance-based objectives established by our board of directors or our compensation committee.

If Mr. Sandercock's employment is terminated due to his death or disability, Mr. Sandercock will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any annual bonus for the year prior to the year in which such termination occurs that is earned but unpaid prior to the date of termination, (iii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iv) any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with Cue policy, which shall be prorated for any year in which Mr. Sandercock's employment is terminated, (v) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. Sandercock is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant, (vi) an annual bonus for the year in which such termination occurs, determined and payable as though no such termination had occurred and (vii) 3 months of base salary. If Mr. Sandercock's employment is terminated without Cause or he resigns for Good Reason (as such terms are defined in the Sandercock Employment Agreement), he will be entitled to receive each of the benefits described in the foregoing clauses (i)-(v) and, (a) subject to the terms and provisions of the Sandercock Employment Agreement, a lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to the sum of (1) the highest annual bonus payable for the year of termination, prorated based on the number of days that Mr. Sandercock is employed in such year through the date of termination plus (2) 6 months of base salary and (b) subject to the terms and provisions of the Sandercock Employment Agreement, if Mr. Sandercock elects to continue medical, dental or other insurance under COBRA, premium payments for such coverage for the 6-month period after termination. If Mr. Sandercock's employment is terminated for Cause or he resigns without Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive (i) any unpaid base salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred through the date of termination, (iii) any accrued but unused vacation time in accordance with Cue policy, which shall be prorated for any year in which Mr. Sandercock's employment is terminated, and (iv) all other payments, benefits or fringe benefits to which Mr. Sandercock is entitled under the terms of any applicable compensation arrangement or benefit, equity or fringe benefit plan or program or grant. Any severance to which Mr. Sandercock may be entitled pursuant to the Sandercock Employment Agreement is subject to his timely execution and non-revocation of a release agreement with us.

Under the Sandercock Employment Agreement, Mr. Sandercock is subject to confidentiality and nonsolicitation provisions that survive the term of his employment.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table presents information on the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2025. As of December 31, 2025, we had three equity compensation plans, our 2025 Plan, our 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan and our 2016 Non-Employee Equity Incentive Plan, each of which was approved by our stockholders. All outstanding awards relate to shares of our common stock. We have also made inducement awards to certain new hires, which awards were not approved by our stockholders.

(1) As of December 31, 2025, all 5,621,928 shares of our common stock available for issuance were under the 2025 Plan.

(2) Represents inducement stock option award granted to an employee in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), with an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant and vesting vest over two years, in four equal installments beginning six months from the date of grant.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Other than compensation agreements and other arrangements, which are described as required by applicable SEC rules under the heading “Executive Compensation” above, and as set forth below, since January 1, 2024, there has not been, and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 in which any director, executive officer, holder of 5% or more of any class of our capital stock or any member of their immediate families had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Participation in 2024 Underwritten Public Offering

In September 2024, we issued and sold to investors in an underwritten public offering an aggregate of 11,564,401 shares of our common stock and, in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 12,435,599 shares of our common stock, and accompanying warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6,000,000 additional shares of common stock at a price of $0.50 per unit, consisting of a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one share of our common stock, or a price of $0.499 per unit, consisting of a pre-funded warrant to purchase a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one share of our common stock. A holder of more than 5% of our voting securities participated in the offering. The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock purchased by such 5% holder and the aggregate purchase price paid for such securities.

(1) See the “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” section for additional information about securities held by this entity.

Participation in April 2025 Underwritten Public Offering

In April 2025, we issued and sold to investors in an underwritten public offering an aggregate of 13,530,780 shares of our common stock and, in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 11,469,216 shares of our common stock, and accompanying warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6,249,999 additional shares of common stock at a price of $0.79 per unit, consisting of a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one-quarter of one share of our common stock, or a price of $0.789 per unit, consisting of a pre-funded warrant to purchase a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one-quarter of one share of our common stock. A holder of more than 5% of our voting securities participated in the offering. The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock purchased by such 5% holder and the aggregate purchase price paid for such securities.

(1) See the “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” section for additional information about securities held by this entity.

Participation in December 2025 Underwritten Public Offering

On December 22, 2025, we issued and sold to investors in an underwritten public offering an aggregate of 17,857,140 shares of our common stock and, in lieu of shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 23,214,286 shares of our common stock, and accompanying warrants to purchase an aggregate of 20,535,713 additional shares of common stock at a price of $0.28 per unit, consisting of a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one-half of one share of our common stock, or a price of $0.279 per unit, consisting of a pre-funded warrant to purchase a share of our common stock and an accompanying warrant to purchase one-half of one share of our common stock. A holder of more than 5% of our voting securities participated in the offering. The following table sets forth the number of warrants to purchase shares of our common stock purchased by such 5% holder and the aggregate purchase price paid for such securities.

(1) See the “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” section for additional information about securities held by this entity.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our voting stock as of March 1, 2026 by:

The percentage of shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of 97,465,802 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 1, 2026. The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder is determined under rules of the SEC. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual or entity and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to options or other rights held by such person that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of March 1, 2026 are considered outstanding, although these shares are not considered outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all listed stockholders is Cue Biopharma, Inc. at 40 Guest Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02135. Each of the stockholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.