SEC Form S-8 filed by Clene Inc.

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2026

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

CLENE INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Clene Inc. Amended 2020 Stock Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Robert Etherington

President and Chief Executive Officer

6550 South Millrock Drive, Suite G50

Salt Lake City, Utah 84121

(Name and address of agent for service)

(801) 676-9695

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) is filed by Clene Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to register 1,000,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), under the Clene Inc. Amended 2020 Stock Plan (the “2020 Stock Plan”). The amendment to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2020 Stock Plan from 3,220,000 to 4,220,000 was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company on April 3, 2026, and by the stockholders of the Company on May 21, 2026. This Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2021 (Registration No. 333-254810), registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2023 (Registration No. 333-272744), registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 5, 2024 (Registration No. 333-279987), and registration statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2025 (Registration No. 333-290072), to the extent not modified or superseded hereby or by any subsequently filed document, which is incorporated by reference herein or therein.

PART II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 8. Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 5, 2026.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Robert Etherington attorney-in-fact, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all further amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement (and any additional registration statement related hereto permitted by Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, (and all further amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto)), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.