X0202 SCHEDULE 13D 0001532793 XXXXXXXX LIVE Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share 08/03/2026 false 0001583771 426897401 Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

c/o Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 34 Shrewsbury Ave., Suite 1D Red Bank NJ 07701

Gary Stetz (732) 902-4000 c/o Hepion Pharmaceuticals, inc., 34 Shrewsbury Ave., Suite 1D Red Bank NJ 07701 0001532793 N Gary Stetz PF N X1 5250000.00 0.00 5250000.00 0.00 5250000.00 N 5.7 IN (1) The percentage reported in row 13 above is calculated with a numerator of 5,250,000 shares beneficially owned by the reporting person including 2,000,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants and a denominator of 90,219,317 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of August 10, 2026. Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. c/o Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 34 Shrewsbury Ave., Suite 1D Red Bank NJ 07701 This Statement is being filed on behalf of Gary Stetz (the "Reporting Person"). The business address of the Reporting Person is 34 Shrewsbury Ave, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Mr. Stetz is a director and interim Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer. No No Mr. Stetz is a citizen of the United States of America. The aggregate purchase price of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person was approximately $150,000.00. On April 21, 2026 the Reporting Person acquired 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 21, 2026 for an aggregate purchase price of $50,000. On July 31, 2026, the Reporting Person acquired 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer and one warrant to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 31, 2026 for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000. The warrant is immediately exercisable at $0.06 per share, subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained therein. The Common Stock owned by the Reporting Person was acquired for investment purposes. The Reporting Person may make further acquisitions of the Common Stock from time to time. Except for the foregoing, the Reporting Person has no plans or proposals which relate to, or could result in, any of the matters referred to in Item 4 of Schedule 13D. See response to Item 5(a) on the cover page for the Reporting Person. See responses to Item 5(b) on the cover page for the Reporting Person. On July 31, 2026, the Reporting Person acquired 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer and one warrant to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement dated July 31, 2026 for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000. Except as described above, the Reporting Person has not effected any transaction in the Common Stock during the past sixty days. No person other than the Reporting Person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein. Not applicable. Other than as described herein, the Reporting Person does not have any contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with respect to the securities of the Issuer. None Gary Stetz /s/ Gary Stetz 08/20/2026