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): April 30, 2025

CALIDI BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(858) 794-9600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(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):

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 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

(a) Resignation of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On November 1, 2024, CBIZ CPAs P.C. (“CBIZ”) acquired the attest business of Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), and substantially all of the partners and staff that provided attestation services with Marcum joined CBIZ in connection with the acquisition. Accordingly, on April 30, 2025, as a result of the acquisition, Marcum resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm of Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) and, on April 30, 2025, the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) approved the appointment of CBIZ as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The reports of Marcum on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles, except that the reports for both years included an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, and the subsequent interim period through April 30, 2025, there were (i) no “disagreements” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) between the Company and Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused Marcum to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such years and (ii) no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

The Company provided Marcum with a copy of the above disclosures and requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements made above and, if it does not agree, the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of Marcum’s letter, dated May 2, 2025, is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

(b) Approval of New Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On April 30, 2025, the Audit Committee approved the appointment of CBIZ as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. In connection with the engagement, CBIZ will prepare the report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, and the subsequent interim period through April 30, 2025, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with CBIZ regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific completed or contemplated transaction or regarding the type of audit opinions that might be rendered by CBIZ on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided by CBIZ to the Company that CBIZ concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K).

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

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.