SAN DIEGO, Nov. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc., a leading RNA medicines company,
announced today that it will host a live R&D webcast focused on the “Advances in Delivery of Nucleic Acid Medicines”
on Tuesday, November 7 at 10:00 a.m. ET/ 7:00 a.m. PT.
The featured speakers on the webcast will be Pad Chivukula, Ph.D., Arcturus’s Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating
Officer who has over 15 years of experience in nucleic acid delivery and therapeutic drug development; and Drew Weismann, M.D.,
Ph.D. who has co-discovered the ability of modified nucleosides in RNA to suppress activation of innate immune sensors and increase
the translation of mRNA containing certain modified nucleosides. Dr. Weismann continues to develop nucleoside modified mRNA
as a new approach to therapeutic protein replacement.
“We are excited to share the innovative progress we’ve made in developing Arcturus’s technologies,” said Pad Chivukula, Ph.D.,
CSO and COO of Arcturus Therapeutics. “We are developing the next wave of nucleic acid chemistry and delivery technologies that
have the potential to improve the quality of life for patients.”
Arcturus’s Key Opinion Leader Call will cover:
- The history and advantages of non-immunogenic mRNA and its application into vaccine research by Drew Weismann, M.D.,
Ph.D.
- Arcturus’s mRNA therapeutic platform technologies by Pad Chivukula, Ph.D., including:
o Protein replacement
o Gene editing
“The combination of nucleoside modified mRNA with Arcturus’s LUNAR™ complexing and delivery technology has the potential to
treat a wide variety of illnesses and disorders,” said Dr. Weismann, Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine,
University of Pennsylvania.
Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D. is a professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He
received his graduate degrees from Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Weissman co-discovered the ability of modified
nucleosides in RNA to suppress activation of innate immune sensors and increase the translation of mRNA containing certain modified
nucleosides. He continues to develop nucleoside modified mRNA as a new approach to deliver therapeutic proteins. Dr. Weissman
also develops methods to optimize vaccine efficacy by altering both the immunogen and the delivery system. Dr. Weissman's
laboratory focuses on the study of RNA and innate immune system biology and the application of these findings to vaccine research,
protein therapeutics, and gene therapy. His laboratory is currently developing new vaccine platforms, therapeutic proteins, and
gene editing systems using nucleoside modified RNAs. He is also an Attending physician at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration
Medical Center, a member of The American Association of Immunologists, and a member of the American Federation for Clinical
Research.
Key Opinion Leader Call Details
Date: Tuesday, November 7, 10:00 a.m. ET / 7:00 a.m. PT
Domestic: 888-245-0988
International: 719-325-4770
Conference ID: 3212426
Webcast with Slides: http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=126992
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 Company Limited, 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.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe
harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management are
forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to expectations
regarding future therapeutic and commercial potential of Arcturus's technologies and intellectual property; the structure, timing
and completion of the proposed merger transaction; and the combined company’s listing on NASDAQ after closing of the proposed
merger. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current
expectations and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in
the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Except as otherwise required by law, all parties disclaim any intention
or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made, whether as a
result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Additional Information about the Proposed Merger involving Alcobra and Arcturus and Where to Find It
In connection with the previously disclosed proposed merger involving Alcobra and Arcturus, a proxy statement and a proxy card has
been furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and has been mailed to Alcobra’s shareholders seeking shareholder
approval in connection with the proposed merger transactions. Before making any voting or investment decision, investors and
shareholders are urged to read the proxy statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto) and any other relevant
documents that Alcobra may furnish to or file with the SEC when they become available because they will contain important
information about the proposed merger transactions.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer
to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale
would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
CONTACT
Arcturus Therapeutics
858-900-2660
info@ArcturusRx.com
Investors
Andrew McDonald Ph.D.
LifeSci Advisors LLC
646-597-6979
