Cue Biopharma (CUE) discloses CMO exit and severance terms

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Cue Biopharma, Inc. (CUE) announced that Chief Medical Officer Matteo Levisetti will leave the company, with his employment ending on November 28, 2025. The company and Dr. Levisetti agreed to his separation on November 17, 2025.

Subject to signing and not revoking a separation and release of claims agreement, Dr. Levisetti will receive a lump-sum cash severance of $556,837.60, equal to nine months of base salary plus a prorated portion of his 2025 target bonus, paid in the first regular payroll cycle after the separation agreement becomes effective. If he elects COBRA coverage, Cue Biopharma will pay the full premiums for up to nine months after the Separation Date, or until he secures reasonably comparable new coverage or COBRA otherwise ends.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Chief Medical Officer departure: Cue Biopharma’s CMO, Matteo Levisetti, will leave effective November 28, 2025, creating potential leadership transition risk in clinical and medical strategy.

Insights

Biotech corporate governance analyst

Cue Biopharma’s CMO is departing with a defined cash and benefits package.

The company disclosed that Chief Medical Officer Matteo Levisetti will depart effective November 28, 2025, following an agreement reached on November 17, 2025. Senior R&D leadership changes can matter for a clinical-stage biotech because the CMO typically oversees trial design, regulatory interactions, and medical strategy.

The separation package includes a lump-sum severance of $556,837.60, described as nine months of base salary plus a prorated 2025 target bonus, along with company-paid COBRA health premiums for up to nine months after the Separation Date, subject to earlier termination if he obtains comparable coverage or COBRA ends. This represents a defined cash and benefits outlay and reflects terms consistent with a termination without cause under his existing employment agreement.

Future disclosures in company filings may clarify any succession plans for the CMO role or how responsibilities are allocated across the remaining executive team, which can help investors understand continuity in clinical and regulatory execution.

8-K Event Classification

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers

1 item

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 17, 2025

Cue Biopharma, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-38327		47-3324577
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

40 Guest Street Boston, Massachusetts		02135 (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

(617) 949-2680

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share		CUE		Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On November 17, 2025, Cue Biopharma, Inc. (the “Company”) and Matteo Levisetti, Chief Medical Officer, agreed that Dr. Levisetti’s employment with the Company will terminate effective November 28, 2025 (the “Separation Date”).

In connection with his departure, Dr. Levisetti is entitled, subject to his execution and nonrevocation of a separation and release of claims agreement, to severance benefits substantially consistent with those previously disclosed severance benefits set forth in Dr. Levisetti’s employment agreement payable in connection with a termination without cause, including (i) a lump sum cash severance payment in an amount equal to $556,837.60, less all applicable taxes and withholdings, which represents (a) nine months of Dr. Levisetti’s base salary, plus (b) a prorated portion of his target 2025 annual bonus, based on the number of days that he is employed in 2025 through the Separation Date, such lump sum payable in the Company’s first regular payroll cycle that follows the effective date of the separation and release of claims agreement; and (ii) if Dr. Levisetti is eligible for and timely elects to continue receiving group health insurance coverage under COBRA, continued payment by the Company of the full premiums for such coverage commencing on the Separation Date and continuing until the earliest of (a) nine months following the Separation Date, (b) the date Dr. Levisetti obtains new employment that offers health and/or dental insurance that is reasonably comparable to that offered by the Company and (c) the date COBRA continuation coverage would otherwise terminate in accordance with the provisions of COBRA.

SIGNATURES

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

				Cue Biopharma, Inc.
Date: November 20, 2025				By:		/s/ Usman Azam
				Name: Usman Azam
				Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

FAQ

What leadership change did Cue Biopharma (CUE) disclose in this 8-K?

Cue Biopharma reported that its Chief Medical Officer, Matteo Levisetti, will have his employment with the company terminate effective November 28, 2025.

When was the Cue Biopharma CMO separation decision made?

The company and Dr. Levisetti agreed on his separation from Cue Biopharma on November 17, 2025, with a Separation Date of November 28, 2025.

How much severance will Cue Biopharma’s CMO receive?

Subject to signing and not revoking a release of claims, Dr. Levisetti will receive a lump-sum cash severance payment of $556,837.60, equal to nine months of base salary plus a prorated 2025 target bonus.

What health benefits does Cue Biopharma provide to the departing CMO?

If Dr. Levisetti is eligible for and timely elects COBRA, Cue Biopharma will pay the full COBRA premiums starting on the Separation Date and continuing until the earliest of nine months after that date, his obtaining reasonably comparable new coverage, or COBRA termination.

Are Cue Biopharma’s severance payments to the CMO conditional?

Yes. The severance cash payment and COBRA premium support are conditioned on Dr. Levisetti’s execution and nonrevocation of a separation and release of claims agreement.

Does the Cue Biopharma 8-K indicate a termination for cause of the CMO?

The filing states that the severance is substantially consistent with benefits payable upon a termination without cause under Dr. Levisetti’s employment agreement; it does not describe a for-cause termination.