---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-26-198588"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CUE"
cik: "0001645460"
company_name: "Cue Biopharma, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-05-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T00:19:56.302504+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Cue Biopharma licenses ex-China rights to anti-IgE mAb Ascendant-221; raises $30M; appoints new CEO

## Summary
- License with Ascendant Health Sciences: $15M upfront, up to $676.5M milestones, tiered high-single-to-low-double-digit royalties on ex-China sales.
- Concurrent private placement raises ~$28M net via pre-funded warrants and warrants at $11.00/unit to accredited investors including new CEO.
- New CEO Dr. Shao-Lee Lin appointed; participates in the private placement.
- Ascendant receives pre-funded warrants for 551,724 shares at $0.001; total potential dilution from warrants exceeds 4.6M shares.
- Company to seek stockholder approval for share issuances under Nasdaq rules; special meeting within 90 days.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-26-198588
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CUE
- cik: 0001645460
- company_name: Cue Biopharma, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-05-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 3.02, 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645460/000119312526198588/0001193125-26-198588-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645460/000119312526198588/d128047d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-198588
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-198588.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-198588.txt

## Key facts
- Equity Issuances
  Cue Biopharma, Inc. issued up to 551,724 shares of common stock of warrant to Ascendant Health Sciences Ltd..
  - Security: warrant
  - Shares: up to 551,724 shares of common stock
  - Purchaser: Ascendant Health Sciences Ltd.
  source text: the Company agreed to issue to the Licensor at an initial closing (the “Initial Closing”) pre-funded warrants (the “Initial Closing Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase up to 551,724 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), as partial consideration for the license and rights granted under the License Agreement.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645460/000119312526198588/0001193125-26-198588-index.htm
- Executive change
  Shao-Lee Lin was appointed as Member of the Board at Cue Biopharma, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Member of the Board
  source text: On April 27, 2026, the Board appointed Dr. Shao-Lee Lin as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board, effective as of her commencement of employment with the Company, which began on April 30, 2026
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645460/000119312526198588/0001193125-26-198588-index.htm
- Executive change
  Shao-Lee Lin was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer at Cue Biopharma, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On April 27, 2026, the Board appointed Dr. Shao-Lee Lin as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board, effective as of her commencement of employment with the Company, which began on April 30, 2026
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645460/000119312526198588/0001193125-26-198588-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lucinda Warren resigned as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at Cue Biopharma, Inc..
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Dr. Lin will succeed Lucinda Warren whose resignation as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer was effective as of April 30, 2026
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645460/000119312526198588/0001193125-26-198588-index.htm
- Material Agreements
  Cue Biopharma, Inc. entered into License Agreement with Ascendant Health Sciences Ltd. valued at $15.0 million as the upfront payment, up to an aggregate of $676.5 million in additional potential m (effective 2026-04-30).
  - Action: entry
  - Agreement: license
  - Counterparty: Ascendant Health Sciences Ltd.
  - Value: $15.0 million as the upfront payment, up to an aggregate of $676.5 million in additional potential m
  - Effective: 2026-04-30
  source text: On April 30, 2026, Cue Biopharma, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Ascendant Health Sciences Ltd., a Cayman Limited Company (the “Licensor”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1645460/000119312526198588/0001193125-26-198588-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.