Company: HCWB
Filing Date: 2025-11-19
Form Type: 8-K
Source: 0001193125-25-286642
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Company: HCW Biologics Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-11-19
Form: 8-K
Item: Item 1.01
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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On November 17, 2025, HCW Biologics Inc. (the “ Company”) and Beijing Trimmune Biotech Co., Ltd. (“ Trimmune”) entered into an Amended and Restated License, Research and Co-Development Agreement (“ A& R License”) following the assignment of the original License, Research and Co-Development Agreement, which includes an exclusive license to HCW11-006 for in vivo applications (“ WY Biotech License”) from WY Biotech Co., Ltd. to Trimmune. The parties restructured the terms of the original WY Biotech License to include the assignment of rights to Trimmune, payment of half of the $7.0M upfront license fee ( i. e., $3.5M) in cash at closing and the other half in transferable equity in Trimmune (valued based on its current round of equity financing), an option to license HCW9302 for in vivo applications in China or Asia, and a 90-day period to close the deal from execution of the A& R License. Pursuant to the terms of the A& R License, the Company will retain its payment-free, milestone-free, and royalty-free option to recapture all rights to the development and commercialization of the licensed molecule for in vivo applications in the United States, Canada, Central America, and South America (Opt-in Territory) after the conclusion of the Phase 1 clinical trial. Trimmume is financially responsible for all costs associated with research and development, manufacturing, clinical development, regulatory approval, and commercialization for the molecule in its territory. If the closing under the A& R License Agreement does not occur within 90 days of execution ( i. e., by January 16, 2026), all intellectual property and rights with respect to HCW11-006 will be returned to the Company.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             HCW BIOLOGICS INC.                                 
  Date:      November 18, 2025      By:      /s/ Hing C. Wong                                   
                                             Hing C. Wong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer