Arcturus Therapeutics Announces Presentations at Conferences in November

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcturus Therapeutics, a leading RNA medicines company, announced today that it plans to present at three conferences in November 2017: the 5^th International mRNA Health Conference (November 1-2) in Berlin, the 2017 North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (November 2-4) in Indianapolis, and the NY/NJ CEO Conference (November 7-8) in New York. Details of these presentations are as follows: 

Arcturus’s LUNAR™ platform technology enables messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery to the liver, lung, and other target tissues. The company will present data demonstrating the therapeutic potential for LUNAR-mRNA in mouse models of hemophilia and OTC deficiency.  The data show that repeat dosing of LUNAR-FIX mRNA restored FIX protein and corrected the clotting defect in FIX-deficient mice.  LUNAR-OTC mRNA durably suppressed urinary orotate and prevented hyperammonemia after protein challenge in spf/ash mice.  Next generation LUNAR lipids show increased potency while maintaining a favorable tolerability profile.

Arcturus is working to develop an mRNA therapeutic for cystic fibrosis (CF) using its proprietary LUNAR drug delivery system. The technology is designed to cause the cells of the airway in CF patients to make a functional version of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The company will present data from pre-clinical proof of concept studies demonstrating: 1) functional delivery of LUNAR-mRNA to mouse lung epithelial cells, 2) functional delivery of LUNAR-mRNA to polarized HBE cells grown at air liquid interface, 3) mRNA stability in CF patient sputum, and 4) supraphysiological CFTR protein expression in CFBE cells. These in vivo and in vitro proof-of-concept studies demonstrate the potential of the LUNAR-CF mRNA therapy for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in all patients, regardless of genotype.

NY/NJ CEO is a networking forum for industry CEOs and decision makers in the life sciences. Joseph Payne, President & CEO of Arcturus, will take part in a panel discussion along with senior executives/partners from Merck Group, Hogan Lovells, SG3 Ventures, and ReNetX Bio. The panel will be moderated by Bob Silverman, J.D., Head of Externalized Drug Discovery Partnering at Roche.

About Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc.
Founded in 2013 and based in San Diego, Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. is an RNA medicines company with enabling technologies — UNA Oligomer chemistry and LUNAR™ lipid-mediated delivery. Arcturus's versatile RNA therapeutics platforms can be applied toward multiple types of RNA medicines including small interfering RNA, messenger RNA, antisense RNA, microRNA and gene editing therapeutics. The company owns LUNAR lipid-mediated delivery and Unlocked Nucleomonomer Agent (UNA) technology including UNA Oligomers, which are covered by its patent portfolio (120 patents and patent applications, issued in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China and other countries). Arcturus's proprietary UNA technology can be used to target individual genes in the human genome, as well as viral genes, and other species for therapeutic purposes. The company's commitment to the development of novel RNA therapeutics has led to partnerships with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Inc., and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Inc. For more information, visit www.ArcturusRx.com, the content of which is not incorporated herein by reference. 

On September 27, 2017, Arcturus and Alcobra Ltd. (Alcobra) (NASDAQ:ADHD) entered into an agreement and plan of merger and reorganization pursuant to which a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcobra will merge with and into Arcturus, with Arcturus becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcobra and the surviving corporation of the merger, and the holders of Arcturus outstanding capital stock immediately prior to the merger will receive ordinary shares representing approximately 60% of the outstanding shares of Alcobra.  Upon consummation of the transaction, Alcobra’s name will be changed to Arcturus Therapeutics, Ltd., and Alcobra will change its ticker symbol to ARCT on NASDAQ.