DEF 14A 1 formdef14a.htm DEF 14A

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

☐	Preliminary Proxy Statement

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

☒	Definitive Proxy Statement

☐	Definitive Additional Materials

☐	Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

HCW BIOLOGICS 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 the appropriate box):

☒	No fee required.

☐	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

On April 27, 2026

March 13, 2026

To Our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the Special Meeting of Stockholders of HCW Biologics Inc. (the “Company” or “HCWB”) on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. This Special Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting, conducted only via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM. You will be able to attend and participate in the Special Meeting online, submit questions during the meeting and vote your shares electronically. In addition, although the live webcast is available only to stockholders at the time of the meeting, following completion of the Special Meeting, a webcast replay will be available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM for a period of one year after the Special Meeting.

At the Special Meeting the Company will submit the following two proposals to its stockholders for approval:

	1.	To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of up to 2,477,292 Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “Common Warrants”) issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 17, 2026 (the “SPA”), entered into in connection with the Company’s follow-on public offering of Units (the “Offering”), which Offering was conducted pursuant to a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2026 and closed on February 19, 2026, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026, each Unit consisting of (i) one share of Common Stock or one Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock and (ii) one Common Warrant, with such Common Warrants exercisable only upon receipt of stockholder approval and having an exercise price equal to 100% of the public offering price per Unit, and such additional terms and conditions of the Common Warrants not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve;

	2.	To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the repricing of certain warrants issued on November 20, 2025 to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of our Common Stock (the “Prior Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement, dated February 17, 2026, entered into in connection with the Offering conducted pursuant to the Registration Statement (as disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026), to reduce the exercise price of the Prior Warrants from $2.41 per share to $0.6055 per share, and to approve the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Prior Warrants as so amended, and such additional terms and conditions of such amendment not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve; and

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

On or about March 13, 2026, we will commence mailing a Notice of Special Meeting and Proxy Statement to our stockholders along with instructions on how to access our Proxy Statement via the Internet and authorize a proxy to vote your shares online. Please use this opportunity to take part in our affairs by voting on the business to come before the Special Meeting. Our Board has fixed the close of business on March 3, 2026, as the record date for the Special Meeting (the “Record Date”), and only stockholders of record as of the Record Date may vote at the Special Meeting and any postponements or adjournments of the meeting. All stockholders are cordially invited to participate in the Special Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof. Returning the paper proxy card or voting electronically does NOT deprive you of your right to participate in the virtual meeting and to vote your shares for the matters acted upon at the meeting.

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

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

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

Sincerely,

Hing C. Wong, Ph.D.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

2929 N. Commerce Parkway

Miramar, Florida 33025

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 27, 2026: THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROXY CARD ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT www.proxyvote.com.

HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To be held April 27, 2026

Time and Date:	April 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.

Place:	The Special Meeting will be a virtual meeting conducted exclusively online via live audio webcast on the internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM. By logging onto this website with the control number included on your proxy card or voting instruction form at the designated time, stockholders and proxyholders of record as of the record date identified below may be deemed present in person and eligible to vote at the Special Meeting.

Items of Business:	1. To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of up to 2,477,292 Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “Common Warrants”) issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 17, 2026 (the “SPA”), entered into in connection with the Company’s follow-on public offering of Units (the “Offering”), which Offering was conducted pursuant to a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2026 and closed on February 19, 2026, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026, each Unit consisting of (i) one share of Common Stock or one Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock and (ii) one Common Warrant, with such Common Warrants exercisable only upon receipt of stockholder approval and having an exercise price equal to 100% of the public offering price per Unit, and such additional terms and conditions of the Common Warrants not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve; 2. To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the repricing of certain warrants issued on November 20, 2025 to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of our Common Stock (the “Prior Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement, dated February 17, 2026, entered into in connection with the Offering conducted pursuant to the Registration Statement (as disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026), to reduce the exercise price of the Prior Warrants from $2.41 per share to $0.6055 per share, and to approve the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Prior Warrants as so amended, and such additional terms and conditions of such amendment not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve; and 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Record Date:	Only stockholders of record at the close of business on March 3, 2026 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting and any postponements or adjournments thereof.

Proxy Voting:	Each share of common stock that you own represents one vote.

	For questions regarding your stock ownership, you may contact us through our website at https://investors.hcwbiologics.com/ir-resources/contact-us or email us at info@hcwbiologics.com, or, if you are a registered holder, contact our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, through its website at www.equiniti.com or by phone at (800) 937-5449.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Hing C. Wong, Ph.D.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Miramar, FL

March 13, 2026

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING	1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PROXY MATERIALS, VOTING, AND THE MEETING	1

PROPOSAL ONE: ISSUANCE OF SHARES IN EXCESS OF EXCHANGE CAP PROPOSAL	8

PROPOSAL TWO: WARRANT REPRICING PROPOSAL	9

HOUSEHOLDING	11

OTHER MATTERS	11

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

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

●

the approval and issuance of shares of our common stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants, and the approval of the repricing of the Prior Warrants and issuance of shares of our common stock upon exercise of the Prior Warrants, as amended, on the price of our common stock;

	●	the approval and issuance of shares of our common stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants, and the approval of the repricing of the Prior Warrants and issuance of shares of our common stock upon exercise of the Prior Warrants, as amended, on the liquidity of our common stock; and

	●	our ability to maintain compliance with the listing standards of Nasdaq.

We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this proxy statement. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described under the heading, “Certain Risks and Potential Disadvantages” in each of Proposals 1 and 2 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this proxy statement may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

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

HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2026

INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING

The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the board of directors of HCW Biologics Inc. (“HCW Biologics”, “HCWB” or the “Company”) for use at HCW Biologics’ Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting” or “meeting”) to be held online on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM. References in this proxy statement for the Special Meeting (the “Proxy Statement”), to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “HCWB” or “HCW Biologics” refer to HCW Biologics Inc.

INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

We will begin the process of mailing, on or about March 13, 2026, the Proxy Statement, as well as the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice of Internet Availability”), to our stockholders of record and beneficial owners at the close of business on March 3, 2026. On the date of mailing of the Notice, all stockholders and beneficial owners will have the ability to access all of the proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice of Internet Availability (in addition to receiving a hard copy of the proxy materials by mail). These proxy materials will be available free of charge.

The Notice of Internet Availability will identify the website where the proxy materials will be made available; the date, the time and location of the Special Meeting; the matters to be acted upon at the meeting and our board of directors’ recommendations with regard to each matter; and information on how to participate in the meeting and vote in person.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PROXY MATERIALS, VOTING, AND THE MEETING

Q:	What is the purpose of the meeting?

A:	At the meeting, stockholders will act upon the proposals described in this Proxy Statement. In addition, following the formal portion of the meeting, management will be available to respond to questions from stockholders.

Q:	What is included in the proxy materials?

A:	These materials include:

	●	Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders;

	●	The Proxy Statement;

	●	Appendix A (Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant); and

	●	Appendix B (Amendment to Existing Warrant Agreement, dated February 17, 2026)

If you received printed versions of these materials by mail (rather than through electronic delivery), the materials also included a proxy card or voting instruction form.

Q:	What proposals are scheduled to be voted on at the meeting?

A:	Stockholders will be asked to vote on the following two proposals at the meeting, each of which are, among other things, part of the Company’s plan to regain compliance with applicable Nasdaq listing requirements:

To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of up to 2,477,292 Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “Common Warrants”) issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 17, 2026 (the “SPA”), entered into in connection with the Company’s follow-on public offering of Units (the “Offering”), which Offering was conducted pursuant to a registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2026 and closed on February 19, 2026, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026, each Unit consisting of (i) one share of Common Stock or one Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock and (ii) one Common Warrant, with such Common Warrants exercisable only upon receipt of stockholder approval and having an exercise price equal to 100% of the public offering price per Unit, and such additional terms and conditions of the Common Warrants not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve; and

To approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the repricing of certain warrants issued on November 20, 2025 to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of our Common Stock (the “Prior Warrants”) pursuant to that certain Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement, dated February 17, 2026, entered into in connection with the Offering conducted pursuant to the Registration Statement (as disclosed in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 19, 2026), to reduce the exercise price of the Prior Warrants from $2.41 per share to $0.6055 per share, and to approve the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Prior Warrants as so amended, and such additional terms and conditions of such amendment not materially inconsistent with the foregoing as our Board may hereafter approve.

Additionally, stockholders may be asked to transact any other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Q:	Could matters other than Proposal One and Proposal Two be decided at the meeting?

Our bylaws require that we receive advance notice of any proposal to be brought before the meeting by stockholders of HCW Biologics, and we have not received notice of any such proposals. If any other matter were to come before the meeting, the proxy holders appointed by our board of directors will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you.

Q:	How does the board of directors recommend I vote on these proposals?

A:	Our board of directors recommends that you vote your shares:

	●	“FOR” the Common Warrants Proposal (Proposal One); and

	●	“FOR” the Prior Warrants Proposal (Proposal Two).

Q.	How can I access the proxy materials?

We are mailing the Special Meeting proxy materials to our stockholders and also providing access to those materials over the Internet. In connection with this process, a Notice of Internet Availability is being mailed to our stockholders who have not previously requested electronic access to our proxy materials or paper proxy materials. The Notice of Internet Availability contains instructions on how you may access and review our proxy materials on the internet and how you may submit a proxy for your shares over the internet. The Notice of Internet Availability will also tell you how to request our proxy materials in printed form or by email, at no charge. The Notice of Internet Availability contains a control number that you will need to submit a proxy for your shares. Please keep the Notice for your reference through the meeting date. Anyone attending the Special Meeting must observe the rules approved by the board of directors.

Q:	Who may vote at the Special Meeting?

Stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 3, 2026, (“the Record Date”), are entitled to receive notice of, to attend and participate, and to vote at the Special Meeting. At the close of business on the Record Date, there were 3,516,812 shares of our Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and these proxy materials were sent directly to you by HCW Biologics.

Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Nominee

If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name,” and these proxy materials were forwarded to you by that organization rather than from us. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Special Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. Because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares at the Special Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from the organization that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares at the Special Meeting. Beneficial owners must obtain a valid proxy from the organization that holds their shares and present it to Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, at least two (2) weeks in advance of the Special Meeting.

Q:	How do I vote?

A:	The procedures for voting are as follows:

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If you are the stockholder of record, you may vote your shares online during the virtual Special Meeting (see “How can I participate in the virtual Special Meeting?” below) or by proxy in advance of the Special Meeting by internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM, by telephone (at 1-800-690-6903), or, if you requested and received a printed copy of the proxy materials, you may vote by mail by completing, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the enclosed prepaid envelope. Votes submitted by telephone or through the internet must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on April 26, 2026. If you vote by mail, your proxy card must be received before voting begins at the Special Meeting. Submitting your proxy, whether by telephone, through the internet or by mail will not affect your right to vote in person virtually should you decide to attend and participate in the meeting virtually.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Other Nominee

If you are not the stockholder of record, please refer to the voting instructions provided by your nominee to direct it how to vote your shares. The voting deadlines and availability of telephone and internet voting for beneficial owners of shares will depend on the voting processes of the broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares. Therefore, we urge you to carefully review and follow the voting instruction form and any other materials that you receive from that organization. To ensure that your vote is counted, complete and mail the voting instruction form provided by your brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee as directed by your nominee. To electronically vote in person virtually at the meeting online, you must obtain a legal proxy from your nominee. Follow the instructions from your nominee included with our proxy materials or contact your nominee to request a proxy form.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to participate in the Special Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure that your vote is counted.

Q:	What shares can I vote?

Each share of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the close of business on March 3, 2026 is entitled to vote on all items being voted on at the meeting. You may vote all shares owned by you as of March 3, 2026, including (1) shares held directly in your name as the stockholder of record, and (2) shares held for you as the beneficial owner in street name through a broker, bank, trustee, or other nominee.

Q:	How many votes am I entitled to per share?

A:	Each holder of shares of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held as of March 3, 2026.

Q: What is the quorum requirement for the meeting?

The holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting as of the Record Date must be present in person virtually or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting in order to hold the Special Meeting and conduct business. This presence is called a quorum. Your shares are counted as present at the Special Meeting if you are present and vote in person virtually at the Special Meeting or if you have properly submitted a proxy.

Q:	How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

A:	Abstentions (i.e., shares present at the Special Meeting and marked “abstain”) are deemed to be shares presented or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, and are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. Abstentions have no effect on Proposal One or Proposal Two.

A broker non-vote occurs when the beneficial owner of shares fails to provide the broker, bank or other nominee that holds the shares with specific instructions on how to vote on any “non-routine” matters brought to a vote at the stockholders meeting. In this situation, the broker, bank or other nominee will not vote on the “non-routine” matter. Broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and have no effect on the outcome of the matters voted upon.

Note that if you are a beneficial holder, brokers and other nominees will be entitled to vote your shares on “routine” matters without instructions from you. A broker or other nominee will not be entitled to vote your shares on any “non-routine” matters, absent instructions from you.

“Non-routine” matters include Proposals One and Two. Accordingly, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your broker or other nominee, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.

Q:	What is the vote required for each proposal?

A:	The votes required to approve each proposal are as follows:

	●	Proposal One: Approval will be obtained if the number of votes cast “FOR” the proposal at the Special Meeting exceeds the number of votes “AGAINST” the proposal.

	●	Proposal Two: Approval will be obtained if the number of votes cast “FOR” the proposal at the Special Meeting exceeds the number of votes “AGAINST” the proposal.

Q:	If I submit a proxy, how will it be voted?

When proxies are properly dated, executed and returned, the shares represented by such proxies will be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with the instructions of the stockholder. If no specific instructions are given, the shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of our board of directors as described above. If any matters not described in the Proxy Statement are properly presented at the Special Meeting, the proxy holders will use their own judgment to determine how to vote your shares. If the Special Meeting is postponed or adjourned, the proxy holders can vote your shares on the new meeting date as well, unless you have revoked your proxy instructions, as described below under “Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?”

Q:	What should I do if I get more than one proxy card or voting instruction form?

Stockholders may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of the proxy materials, proxy cards or voting instruction forms. For example, stockholders who hold shares in more than one brokerage account may receive separate sets of proxy materials for each brokerage account in which shares are held. Stockholders of record whose shares are registered in more than one name will receive more than one set of proxy materials. You should vote in accordance with all of the proxy cards and voting instruction forms you receive relating to our Special Meeting to ensure that all of your shares are voted and counted.

Q: Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?

A:	You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the taking of the vote or the polls closing at the Special Meeting.

If you are the stockholder of record, you may change your vote by:

	●	granting a new proxy bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy) using any of the methods described above (and until the applicable deadline for each method);

	●	providing a written notice of revocation to HCW Biologics’ Secretary at HCW Biologics Inc., 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025, prior to your shares being voted, or

	●	participating in the Special Meeting and voting electronically online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM. Participation alone at the Special Meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically vote during the meeting online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM.

Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to revoke a proxy, you must contact that firm to revoke any prior voting instructions.

Q:	How can I participate in the virtual Special Meeting?

There is no physical location for the Special Meeting. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to participate virtually in the Special Meeting, including to vote, ask questions and view the list of registered stockholders as of the record date during the Special Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM. To participate and vote in the Special Meeting, you will need the control number included on your proxy card or voting instruction form.

We are committed to ensuring, to the extent possible, that stockholders will be given the same participation rights that they would be given if they attended an in-person meeting. We will endeavor to answer as many stockholder-submitted questions as time permits that comply with the Special Meeting rules of conduct. We reserve the right to edit profanity or other inappropriate language and to exclude questions regarding topics that are not pertinent to meeting matters or Company business. If we receive substantially similar questions, we may group such questions together and provide a single response to avoid repetition.

The meeting webcast will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Online check-in will begin at 9:45 a.m., Eastern Time, and we encourage you to allow ample time for check-in procedures. If you experience technical difficulties during the check-in process or during the meeting, please call the technical support number provided on the log-in page of the virtual meeting. Additional information regarding the rules and procedures for participating in the Special Meeting will be set forth in our meeting rules of conduct, which stockholders can view during the meeting at the meeting website. Regardless of whether you plan to participate in the Special Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Special Meeting. Accordingly, we encourage you to vote in advance of the Special Meeting. Please be aware that participating in the Special Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. See, “Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?” above for more details.

Q:	How do I submit questions during the meeting?

A:	Stockholders may submit questions during the Special Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM and using their 16-digit control number to enter the meeting. Questions may be submitted by typing them into the text box provided.

Q:	Is there a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Special Meeting?

For a period of ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting, the names of stockholders of record entitled to vote will be available for inspection by stockholders for any purpose germane to the meeting between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., local time, at our offices located at 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025. Please send a written request to our Secretary at HCW Biologics Inc., 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025, or email legal@HCWBiologics.com to schedule an appointment. This list will also be available for inspection during the Special Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2026SM.

Q:	Who will tabulate the votes?

A:	A representative of the Company will serve as the Inspector of Elections and will tabulate the votes at the Special Meeting.

Q:	Where can I find the voting results of the Special Meeting?

A:	We will announce preliminary voting results at the Special Meeting. We will also disclose voting results on a Current Report on Form 8-K that we will file with the SEC within four business days after the Special Meeting.

Q:	I share an address with another stockholder, and we received only one paper copy of the proxy materials. How may I obtain an additional copy of the proxy materials?

The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements we deliver a single copy of the Notice of Internet Availability and, if applicable, our proxy materials to multiple stockholders who share the same address, unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of such stockholders. Please see the section titled “Householding” for information on how to obtain additional copies of proxy materials.

Q:	What if I have questions about my HCW Biologics shares or need to change my mailing or email address?

You may contact our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, by telephone at (800) 937-5449, through its website at www.equiniti.com or by U.S. mail at 55 Challenger Road, 2nd Floor, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660, if you have questions about your HCW Biologics shares or need to change your mailing or email address.

Q:	What if I need to change my email address?

If you need to change the email address that we use to mail proxy materials to you or if you wish to sign up to receive future mailings via email, please go to the website provided on your proxy card or voting instruction card, to request to receive materials solely by electronic delivery in the future and supply the appropriate email address.

Q:	Who is soliciting my proxy and paying for the expense of solicitation?

The proxy for the Special Meeting is being solicited on behalf of our board of directors. We will pay the cost of preparing and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes. We may, on request, reimburse brokerage firms and other nominees for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. In addition to soliciting proxies electronically, we expect that our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies in person or by telephone, mailings, emails or otherwise. None of these individuals will receive any additional or special compensation for doing this, although we may reimburse these individuals for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We expect to retain Advantage Proxy to solicit votes on behalf of our board of directors. If you choose to access the proxy materials or vote via the internet or by phone, you are responsible for any internet access or phone charges you may incur.

PROPOSAL ONE

APPROVAL OF THE ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF THE

COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK UPON EXERCISE OF COMMON WARRANTS ISSUED

IN THE FEBRUARY 2026 FOLLOW-ON PUBLIC OFFERING.

General Information.

We entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 17, 2026 (the “SPA”), with Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (“Armistice”), pursuant to which we agreed to offer and sell, in a follow-on public offering conducted pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-293396) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 17, 2026 (the “Offering”), 2,477,292 units (the “Units”), each consisting of (i) one share of our Common Stock or one Pre-Funded Warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock and (ii) one Common Warrant to purchase one share of our Common Stock (the “Common Warrants”). The Offering closed on February 19, 2026.

Under applicable Nasdaq rules, we may not issue shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants to the extent that such issuance would exceed 19.99% of the shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the SPA (the “Exchange Cap”), unless we obtain stockholder approval in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d).

Accordingly, our ability to issue shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants may be limited unless and until our stockholders approve the issuance of shares in excess of the Exchange Cap.

Why Does the Company Need Stockholder Approval?

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market and, as such, we are subject to the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. Nasdaq Stock Rule 5635(d) is referred to as the “Nasdaq 20% Rule.” In order to comply with the Nasdaq 20% Rule, we are seeking stockholder approval to permit the potential issuance of more than 19.99% of our outstanding common stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants in accordance with their terms.

The Nasdaq 20% Rule requires that an issuer obtain stockholder approval prior to certain issuances of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock at a price less than the greater of market price or book value of such securities (on an as exercised basis) if such issuance equals 20% or more of the common stock or voting power of the issuer outstanding before the transaction. Upon entering into the SPA, we could not issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants to the extent that after giving effect thereto, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants would exceed 1,646,056 shares (representing approximately 19.99% of the shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the SPA), unless the Company’s stockholders approved the issuance of common stock in excess of the Exchange Cap in accordance with the applicable rules of the trading market.

To meet the Nasdaq 20% Rule, we need stockholder approval under the listing rules of Nasdaq to remove the Exchange Cap provisions in the SPA to permit the potential issuance of more than 20% of our outstanding common stock in accordance with the terms of the SPA.

What is the Effect on Current Stockholders if Proposal One is Approved?

If our stockholders approve this proposal, we will be able to permit the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants in excess of the Exchange Cap and therefore issue up to 2,477,292 shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Common Warrants. Shares issued upon exercise of the Common Warrants will have the same rights and privileges as our currently outstanding Common Stock. If stockholders approve Proposal One, the rights or privileges of our existing stockholders will not be affected, except that the economic and voting interests of each of our existing stockholders will be significantly diluted upon exercise of the Common Warrants. Although the number of shares of our common stock that our existing stockholders own will not decrease, the shares of our common stock owned by our existing stockholders will represent a smaller percentage of our total outstanding shares of our common stock after any such issuance.

What is the Effect on Current Stockholders if Proposal One is NOT approved?

If our stockholders do not approve this Proposal One, the Common Warrants will remain outstanding but will not be exercisable to the extent such exercise would exceed the Exchange Cap, which may reduce the likelihood that the Company receives additional capital upon exercise of the Common Warrants and may adversely affect the Company’s growth potential and ability to maintain its Nasdaq listing.

Required Vote

In accordance with Delaware law, approval of Proposal One requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Special Meeting. As a result, abstentions will have the same effect as votes against this proposal.

Recommendation of the Board

The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal One.

PROPOSAL TWO

APPROVAL OF THE WARRANT REPRICING

General Information.

On November 19, 2025, we entered into a warrant inducement agreement (the “Inducement Agreement”) with Armistice Capital Master Fund Ltd. (“Armistice”), pursuant to which Armistice agreed to immediately exercise in full certain existing warrants originally issued on November 20, 2024, and May 15, 2025 (collectively, the “Existing Warrants”). Armistice exercised the Existing Warrants for an aggregate of 1,510,205 shares of our Common Stock at an amended exercise price of $2.66 per share, resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $4.0 million before fees and expenses.

In consideration for such exercise, we issued to Armistice new unregistered Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the “Prior Warrants”) to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of our Common Stock (the “Prior Warrant Shares”). The Prior Warrants have an exercise price of $2.41 per share, are exercisable immediately, and expire five and one-half years after their issuance. The Prior Warrants were issued in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

On February 17, 2026, in connection with the Offering, we entered into an Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement with Armistice pursuant to which, subject to stockholder approval, we agreed to reduce the exercise price of the Prior Warrants to the public offering price per Unit paid in the Offering, which was $0.6055 per Unit. We refer to this proposal as the “Warrant Repricing Proposal.”

Purpose of the Warrant Repricing Proposal

We are asking stockholders to approve, for purposes of complying with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the repricing of the Prior Warrants to purchase up to 3,020,410 shares of our Common Stock, originally issued on November 20, 2025, with a current exercise price of $2.41 per share, so that each of the Prior Warrants has a new exercise price equal to $0.6055 per share, which represents the public offering price per Unit in the Offering.

If our stockholders approve the Warrant Repricing Proposal at the Special Meeting, such approval will become effective as of the date of the Special Meeting (the “Stockholder Approval Date”).

As required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), the repricing of the Prior Warrants will only occur upon the effectiveness of stockholder approval of this proposal at the Special Meeting. In the event that stockholder approval is not obtained, the Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement will be null and void, and the provisions of the Prior Warrants in effect prior to the amendment will remain in effect.

Description of Prior Warrants

Subject to certain ownership limitations, the Prior Warrants are immediately exercisable, have an exercise price of $2.41 per share (prior to the proposed amendment), and expire five and one-half years from the date of issuance.

The exercise price and number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise are subject to appropriate proportional adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations, or similar events affecting our Common Stock and the exercise price.

The holder of the Prior Warrants is prohibited from exercising such warrants to the extent that such exercise would result in the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such holder and its affiliates exceeding 9.99% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise.

The Prior Warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis under certain circumstances, including if a registration statement covering the resale of the underlying shares is not effective.

In the event of certain fundamental transactions, the holder of the Prior Warrants will have the right to receive the Black-Scholes Value (as defined in the Prior Warrants) of such warrants, payable either in cash or in the same type or form of consideration being offered to holders of Common Stock.

Except for the reduction in exercise price and related conforming changes, the Prior Warrants will remain outstanding in accordance with their existing terms.

Why Does the Company Need Stockholder Approval?

Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d) requires stockholder approval of transactions other than public offerings of greater than 20% of the outstanding common stock of the issuer at a price that is less than the lower of: (i) the Nasdaq Official Closing Price (as reflected on Nasdaq.com) immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement; or (ii) the average Nasdaq Official Closing Price of the common stock (as reflected on Nasdaq.com) for the five trading days immediately preceding the signing of the binding agreement (the “Minimum Price”).

Since our agreement to reprice certain of the Prior Warrants occurred within six months of their issuance, and since the expected repriced exercise price is below the Minimum Price at the time of the original issuance of each of the Prior Warrants, we require stockholder approval to permit such repricing within six months of their original issuance. This proposal is included in this proxy statement for purposes of seeking this approval.

Potential Consequences if the Proposal is Not Approved

The Board is not seeking approval to issue the Prior Warrants, as they were previously issued in November 2025. We are only asking for approval to allow the repricing of the Prior Warrants.

If this proposal is not approved, the Existing Warrants Amendment Agreement will not become effective and the Prior Warrants will remain outstanding at their current exercise price of $2.41 per share. Because that exercise price is substantially above the current market price of our Common Stock, it is unlikely that the Prior Warrants would be exercised and we would not receive proceeds from such exercises.

Potential Adverse Effects of the Approval of the Proposal

If this proposal is approved, existing stockholders will suffer dilution in their ownership interests in the future as a result of the potential issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Prior Warrants. Assuming the full exercise of the Prior Warrants, an aggregate of 3,020,410 additional shares of Common Stock will be outstanding, and the ownership interest of our existing stockholders would be correspondingly reduced.

The sale into the public market of these shares could materially and adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.

Required Vote

In accordance with Delaware law, approval of Proposal Two requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this proposal at the Special Meeting. As a result, abstentions will have the same effect as votes against this proposal.

Recommendation of the Board

The Board recommends a vote FOR Proposal Two.

HOUSEHOLDING

Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of our documents, including this proxy statement, may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household if you have requested paper copies thereof. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to you upon written or oral request to HCW Biologics Inc., 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025, Attention: Corporate Secretary or (954) 842-2024 X205. If you want to receive separate copies of the proxy statement in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.

OTHER MATTERS

Our board of directors does not presently intend to bring any other business before the Special Meeting and, so far as is known to our board of directors, no matters are to be brought before the Special Meeting except as specified in the Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders. As to any business that may arise and properly come before the Special Meeting, however, it is intended that proxies, in the form enclosed, will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.

Appendix A

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

Warrant Shares: _________

Issue Date: __________

THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date that the Shareholder Approval (as defined below) is obtained and deemed effective (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the five year anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from HCW Biologics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock. The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).

Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1:

“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

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“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

“Registration Statement” means the Company’s registration statement on Form S- 1 (File No. 333- ).

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Shareholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (or any successor entity) from the shareholders of the Company to permit the exercise of the Warrants.

“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.

“Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.

“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

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“Transfer Agent” means Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 48 Wall Street, Floor 23, New York, New York 10005 and an email address of frank.misciagna@equiniti.com, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the holders of a majority in interest of the Warrants then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

“Warrants” means this Warrant and other Common Stock purchase warrants issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement.

Section 2. Exercise.

a) Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation as soon as reasonably practicable of the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise on the Trading Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

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b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $[ , subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).

c) Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise hereof there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of the Warrant Shares to the Holder, then this Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

	(A)	= as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) the highest Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) within two (2) hours of the time of the Holder’s delivery of the Notice of Exercise pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof if such Notice of Exercise is delivered during “regular trading hours,” or within two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours,” on a Trading Day or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after two (2) hours following the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day;

	(B)	= the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and

	(X)	= the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the registered characteristics of the Warrants being exercised. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, on the Termination Date, this Warrant shall be automatically exercised via cashless exercise pursuant to this Section 2(c).

d) Mechanics of Exercise.

i. Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) this Warrant is being exercised via cashless exercise, and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received within the earlier of (i) one (1) Trading Day and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the VWAP of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Warrant Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.

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ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

iii. Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that, in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares.

vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

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e) Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any other Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within one Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% (or, upon election by a Holder prior to the issuance of any Warrants, 9.99%) of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

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Section 3. Certain Adjustments.

a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

c) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation). To the extent that this Warrant has not been partially or completely exercised at the time of such Distribution, such portion of the Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until the Holder has exercised this Warrant.

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d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of greater than 50% of the outstanding Common Stock or greater than 50% of the voting power of the common equity of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires greater than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or greater than 50% of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, however, that, if the Fundamental Transaction is not within the Company’s control, including not approved by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Holder shall only be entitled to receive from the Company or any Successor Entity the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant, that is being offered and paid to the holders of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the Fundamental Transaction, whether that consideration be in the form of cash, stock or any combination thereof, or whether the holders of Common Stock are given the choice to receive from among alternative forms of consideration in connection with the Fundamental Transaction; provided, further, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock of the Successor Entity (which Successor Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg, L.P. (“Bloomberg”) determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of (1) the 30 day volatility, (2) the 100 day volatility or (3) the 365 day volatility, each of clauses (1)-(3) as obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (i) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (ii) the VWAP immediately preceding the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier), (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five Business Days of the Holder’s election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(e) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall be added to the term “Company” under this Warrant (so that from and after the occurrence or consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, each and every provision of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to each of the Company and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally), and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally with the Company, may exercise every right and power of the Company prior thereto and the Successor Entity or Successor Entities shall assume all of the obligations of the Company prior thereto under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if the Company and such Successor Entity or Successor Entities, jointly and severally, had been named as the Company herein. For the avoidance of doubt, the Holder shall be entitled to the benefits of the provisions of this Section 3(d) regardless of (i) whether the Company has sufficient authorized shares of Common Stock for the issuance of Warrant Shares and/or (ii) whether a Fundamental Transaction occurs prior to the Initial Exercise Date.

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e) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

f) Notice to Holder.

i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by email to the Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

g) Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.

Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.

a) Transferability. This Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.

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b) New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.

c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

Section 5. Miscellaneous.

a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. Without limiting any rights of a Holder to receive Warrant Shares on a “cashless exercise” pursuant to Section 2(c) or to receive cash payments pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) and Section 2(d)(iv) herein, in no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle an exercise of this Warrant.

b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.

c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

d) Authorized Shares.

The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

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Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.

Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

e) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Company, at , Attention: , email address: , or such other email address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Company. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.

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i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.

l) Amendment. Other than Section 2(e) above and this Section 5(l), which may not be amended, modified or waived, this Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holder, on the other hand.

m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.

********************

(Signature Page Follows)

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

	HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

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NOTICE OF EXERCISE

TO: HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ___________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):

☐ in lawful money of the United States; or

☐ if permitted the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).

(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

____________________________________________

The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:

____________________________________________

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

Name of Investing Entity: __________________________________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: ____________________________________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: ______________________________________________________________________

Title of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________________________________________________

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

Name:
	(Please Print)

Address:
	(Please Print)

Phone Number:

Email Address:

Dated:________________ , ____

Holder’s Signature: ______________________

Holder’s Address: ______________________

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Appendix B

February 17, 2026

Holder of Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued on November 20, 2025

Re: Amendment to Existing Warrants

Dear Holder:

Reference is hereby made to the offering on Form S-1 (File No. 333-293396) on or about the date hereof (the “Offering”) by HCW Biologics Inc. (the “Company”) of common shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Shares”), and/or other securities of the Company (collectively, the “Securities”).

This letter confirms that, in consideration for the Holder’s participation in the Offering and purchase of the Securities in the Offering (the “Purchase Commitment”), pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated February 17, 2026 (the “Purchase Agreement”), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to hold a special meeting of stockholders on or prior to sixty (60) days after the Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement ) for the purpose of obtaining such stockholder approval (“Shareholder Approval”) as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (or any successor entity) to amend the Existing Warrants (as defined below), to reduce the exercise price of such Existing Warrants to $0.6055 (the “Warrant Amendment”) with the recommendation of the Company’s Board of Directors that such proposal is approved, and the Company shall solicit proxies from its stockholders in connection therewith in the same manner as all other management proposals in such proxy statement and all management-appointed proxyholders shall vote their proxies in favor of such proposal. If the Company does not obtain Shareholder Approval with respect to the Warrant Amendment at the first special meeting of the stockholders, the Company shall call a meeting every sixty (60) days thereafter to seek such Shareholder Approval until the date on which Shareholder Approval is obtained or the Existing Warrants are no longer outstanding. The Warrant Amendment shall be effective upon Shareholder Approval and the satisfaction of the other terms and conditions referenced below.

“Existing Warrants” means, collectively, the following existing warrants held by the Holder:

the existing warrants to purchase up to 3,020,410 Common Shares of the Company at an exercise price of $2.41 per share issued on November 20, 2025;

In addition to Shareholder Approval, the Warrant Amendment is subject to the consummation of the Offering and the Holder’s satisfaction of the Purchase Commitment. In the event that either (i) the Offering is not consummated, or (ii) the Holder does not satisfy the Purchase Commitment, this letter shall be null and void and the provisions of the Existing Warrants in effect prior to the date hereof shall remain in effect.

Except as expressly set forth herein, the terms and provisions of the Existing Warrants shall remain in full force and effect after the execution of this letter and shall not be in any way changed, modified or superseded except by the terms set forth herein.

From and after the effectiveness of the Warrant Amendment, the Company agrees to promptly deliver to the Holder, upon request, amended Existing Warrants that reflect the Warrant Amendments in exchange for the surrender for cancellation of the Holder’s Existing Warrants to be amended as provided herein.

[Signature Page Follows]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

By:
Name:
Title:

Name of Holder: _______________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder: _________________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: ____________________________________________

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SEC Form DEF 14A filed by HCW Biologics Inc.