Moleculin Biotech (NASDAQ: MBRX) restores Nasdaq compliance and averts delisting risk

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Moleculin Biotech, Inc. reported that it has regained compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing standards. The company had previously been notified in May 2025 that it failed to meet Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires at least $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity, and that it also did not meet the alternative tests for market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations. In November 2025, Nasdaq staff issued a delisting determination, which Moleculin appealed to a hearing panel. On January 6, 2026, Nasdaq staff informed the panel that Moleculin is now in compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) and all other applicable continued listing standards, so the previously scheduled hearing has been cancelled and the company’s Nasdaq listing remains in place.

Positive

• Nasdaq compliance restored: Nasdaq staff confirmed on January 6, 2026 that Moleculin is back in compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) and all continued listing standards, cancelling a pending delisting hearing and preserving the company’s Nasdaq listing.
• Delisting risk removed: A prior delist determination issued in November 2025 has effectively been resolved in Moleculin’s favor, eliminating near-term trading and liquidity uncertainty tied to a potential move off Nasdaq.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Equity Capital Markets Analyst

Moleculin has avoided a Nasdaq delisting after regaining equity compliance.

The company had fallen out of compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires at least $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity, and also failed the rule’s alternative tests for market value or net income. A delisting determination was issued in November 2025, a serious step that can reduce liquidity and limit institutional ownership.

Nasdaq staff informed the hearing panel on January 6, 2026 that Moleculin is again in full compliance with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) and all applicable continued listing standards. With the hearing cancelled and the listing preserved, the immediate overhang of a potential Nasdaq delisting is removed, though the long-term impact will depend on the company’s ability to sustain compliance levels reflected in its stockholders’ equity and operating metrics.

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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): January 7, 2026

MOLECULIN BIOTECH, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware	001-37758	47-4671997
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

5300 Memorial Drive, Suite 950, Houston, TX 77007

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(713) 300-5160

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed from 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-14(c)).

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. ☐

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 $.001 per share	MBRX	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Item 8.01 Other Events.

As previously disclosed, on May 23, 2025, Moleculin Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”) received a letter from the staff of the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), which notified the Company that it did not comply with Nasdaq’s Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) (the “Listing Rule”), which requires that the Company maintain a minimum of $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity, and that the Company also did not meet the alternatives of market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations set forth in the Listing Rule.

On November 20, 2025, the Company received a delist determination letter from the Staff advising the Company that the Staff had determined that the Company had not regained compliance with the Listing Rule, and the Company subsequently requested a hearing panel (a “Panel”) appeal of the delist determination.

On January 6, 2026, the Staff informed the Panel that the Company had regained compliance with the Listing Rule and that the Company is in compliance with all applicable continued listing standards. As such, the hearing before the Panel has been cancelled.

SIGNATURE

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.

	MOLECULIN BIOTECH, INC.
	Date: January 7, 2026
	By:	/s/ Jonathan P. Foster
		Jonathan P. Foster
		Chief Financial Officer

FAQ

What did Moleculin Biotech, Inc. (MBRX) announce in this 8-K?

Moleculin Biotech, Inc. announced that Nasdaq staff informed a hearing panel on January 6, 2026 that the company has regained compliance with all applicable continued listing standards, including Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), so a previously scheduled delisting hearing has been cancelled.

Why was Moleculin Biotech (MBRX) previously at risk of Nasdaq delisting?

On May 23, 2025, Moleculin received notice from Nasdaq staff that it did not comply with Listing Rule 5550(b)(1), which requires at least $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity, and that it also did not meet the rule’s alternative criteria for market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations.

What is Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) mentioned for MBRX?

Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) requires a company to maintain a minimum of $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity, or satisfy specified alternatives based on market value of listed securities or net income from continuing operations, in order to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

What happened after Moleculin received the Nasdaq delist determination in November 2025?

After receiving a delist determination letter from Nasdaq staff on November 20, 2025, Moleculin requested an appeal hearing before a Nasdaq hearing panel. Before the hearing occurred, staff notified the panel on January 6, 2026 that Moleculin had regained compliance, leading to cancellation of the hearing.

Is Moleculin Biotech’s common stock still listed on Nasdaq after this update?

Yes. Nasdaq staff advised that Moleculin is in compliance with all applicable continued listing standards. As a result, the hearing was cancelled and the company’s common stock, trading under the symbol MBRX on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, remains listed.