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): August 20, 2024

NKGen Biotech, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-40427		86-2191918
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

3001 Daimler Street

Santa Ana, CA, 92705

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (949) 396-6830

Not Applicable

(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, $0.0001 par value per share	NKGN	Nasdaq Global Market

Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share	NKGNW	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 August 15, 2024, Pierre Gagnon, who currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of NKGen Biotech, Inc. (the “Company”), notified the Company of his intent to resign from his role as Chief Operating Officer and as an officer of the Company, effective immediately. His resignation is not due to any disagreements with the Company regarding any of the Company's operations, policies or practices. Mr. Gagnon will continue to provide services to the Company as a non-executive employee, in a transition and advisory role, until November 30, 2024.

Forward-looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K may be identified by the use of words such as “ensure,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will”, “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words.

Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 16, 2024, as amended by the Form 10-K/A thereto filed April 29, 2024 and the Company’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

SIGNATURES

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

	NKGEN BIOTECH, INC.

Date: August 21, 2024	/s/ Paul Y. Song
	Name:	Paul Y. Song
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer
		(Principal Executive Officer)

NKGen Biotech Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Leadership Update