Company: TVRD
Filing Date: 2025-10-20
Form Type: S-8
Source: 0001104659-25-100898
Chunk: 1

Company: Tvardi Therapeutics, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-10-20
Form: S-8
Chunk 1
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 of the Securities Act. ¨

<div align='center'>EXPLANATORY NOTE</div>

Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated
as of December 17, 2024 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (“Legacy Cara”),
CT Convergence Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Legacy Cara (“Merger Sub”), and Tvardi Therapeutics, Inc.
(“Legacy Tvardi”), Merger Sub merged with and into Legacy Tvardi, with Legacy Tvardi surviving the merger as a wholly owned
subsidiary of Legacy Cara (the “Merger”) on April 15, 2025 (the “Closing Date”). On the Closing Date, Legacy
Cara changed its name to “Tvardi Therapeutics, Inc.” (the “Registrant,” “we,” “our,”
or “us”).

In accordance with the Merger Agreement, upon the effective time of
the Merger (the “Effective Date”), each outstanding stock option to purchase shares of Legacy Tvardi common stock (each a
“Legacy Tvardi Option”) originally granted under Legacy Tvardi’s 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”)
was assumed by the Registrant and was converted into, and became, a stock option to purchase shares of common stock of the Registrant
and the Registrant assumed the 2018 Plan.

The Registrant is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8
(this “Registration Statement”) for the purpose of registering: (i) 715,934 shares of common stock under the 2018 Plan;
(ii) 935,554 shares of common stock under the Registrant’s 2025 Equity Incentive Plan; and (iii) 93,555 shares of common
stock under the Registrant’s 2025 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

<div align='center'>PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</div>

| ITEM 1. | PLAN INFORMATION. |

Not required to be filed with this Registration Statement.

| ITEM 2. | REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION. |

Not required to be filed with this Registration Statement.

<div align='center'>PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</div>

| ITEM 3. | INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. |