Form 8-K SPRUCE BIOSCIENCES, INC. For: Jul 27

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

Spruce Biosciences, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(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:

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

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 July 27, 2026, Spruce Biosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Adrian Quartel, M.D., FFPM, as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer, replacing Dr. Kirk Ways, who had been serving as the Company’s Interim Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Ways will continue to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Quartel brings more than 25 years of experience in the international pharmaceutical industry, with senior roles spanning clinical development, pharmacovigilance, and medical affairs, and a track record of advancing and launching enzyme replacement therapies for rare diseases. Dr. Quartel most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Zevra Therapeutics, where he helped guide the clinical development, medical affairs, and regulatory strategy for the company’s rare disease portfolio. Prior to Zevra, he served as Chief Medical Officer of Acer Therapeutics and Chief Medical Officer of Adamas Pharmaceuticals, a company focused on drug development for neurological diseases. Earlier, as Group Vice President of Global Medical Affairs at BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Dr. Quartel spearheaded the launch of six treatments for rare diseases and genetic disorders, including the enzyme replacement therapies NAGLAZYME®, VIMIZIM®, and Brineura®. Before BioMarin, Dr. Quartel oversaw clinical development and held senior medical leadership positions at Astellas, Chiltern, and ICON Clinical Research. Dr. Quartel holds an M.D. from Erasmus University Medical School, Rotterdam, and a postgraduate specialization in pharmaceutical medicine from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, in London, and is board certified by the General Medical Council (GMC) in pharmaceutical medicine in the United Kingdom.

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 thereunto duly authorized.