RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. and EXTON, Pa., Feb. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX), and
Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDRA), today announced they will be presenting at two upcoming healthcare-focused investor
conferences.
The companies will be presenting at the RBC Capital Markets 2018 Global Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at
3:05 P.M. E.T. The conference is being held at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel.
The companies will also be presenting at the 2018 Barclays Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 9:00 A.M.
E.T. The conference is being held at the Lowes Miami Beach Hotel.
As a reminder, on January 22, 2018, BioCryst and Idera jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement to combine
into a company focused on the development and commercialization of medicines to serve patients suffering from rare diseases.
At the upcoming conferences, the companies will discuss the strategic initiatives of both companies, and how the combination of the
two companies is expected to capitalize on the collective expertise and combined assets to create a comprehensive, sustainable rare
disease-focused biotechnology leader.
Live audio webcast of these presentations will be accessible in the Investors and Media section of Idera’s website at http://www.iderapharma.com and in the Investors section of BioCryst’s website at http://www.biocryst.com. Archived versions will also be available on the respective
Company’s websites after the events for 90 days.
About BioCryst
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals designs, optimizes and develops novel small molecule drugs that block key enzymes involved in rare
diseases. BioCryst has several ongoing development programs: BCX7353, an oral treatment for hereditary angioedema, galidesivir, a
potential treatment for filoviruses, and a preclinical program to develop oral Alk-2 inhibitors for the treatment of fibrodysplasia
ossificans progressive (FOP). RAPIVAB® (peramivir injection), a viral neuraminidase inhibitor for the treatment of influenza, is
BioCryst's first approved product and has received regulatory approval in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Post-marketing
commitments for RAPIVAB are ongoing, as well as activities to support regulatory approvals in other territories. For more
information, please visit the Company's website at www.BioCryst.com.
About Idera
Harnessing the approach of the earliest researchers in immunotherapy and the company’s vast experience in developing proprietary
immunology platforms, Idera’s lead development program is focused on priming the immune system to play a more powerful role in
fighting cancer, ultimately increasing the number of people who can benefit from immunotherapy. Idera continues to invest in
research and development, and is committed to working with investigators and partners who share the common goal of addressing the
unmet needs of patients suffering from rare, life-threatening diseases.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed merger, Idera and BioCryst plan to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
and mail or otherwise provide to their respective stockholders a joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed
transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, IDERA’S AND BIOCRYST’S RESPECTIVE STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF IDERA AND BIOCRYST WITH THE
SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain a
free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about Idera and BioCryst,
once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Idera and BioCryst make
available free of charge at www.iderapharma.com and www.biocryst.com, respectively (in the “Investors” section), copies of
materials they file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
Participants in the Solicitation
This document does not constitute a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any
securities. Idera, BioCryst and their respective directors, executive officers and certain employees and other persons may be
deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Idera and BioCryst in connection with the
proposed merger. Security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Idera’s directors and
officers in Idera’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on March
15, 2017, and its definitive proxy statement for the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 28,
2017. Security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of BioCryst’s directors and officers
in BioCryst’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which was filed with the SEC on February 27,
2017, and its definitive proxy statement for the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 12,
2017. To the extent the holdings of Idera securities by Idera’s directors and executive officers or the holdings of BioCryst
securities by BioCryst’s directors and executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in Idera’s or BioCryst’s
respective proxy statement for its 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements
of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the
proposed merger will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed merger when it is filed with the
SEC. These documents (when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, Idera’s website at
www.iderapharma.com and BioCryst’s website at www.biocryst.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law. Such statements are
based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The inclusion of
forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved.
Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,”
“contemplate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion
of future plans, actions or events identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, including
statements regarding the expected timing of the closing of the merger; the ability of the parties to complete the merger
considering the various closing conditions; the expected benefits of the merger, such as efficiencies, cost savings, tax benefits,
enhanced revenues and cash flow, growth potential, market profile and financial strength; the competitive ability and position of
the combined company; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements. Important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from Idera’s and BioCryst’s plans, estimates or expectations could include, but are
not limited to: (i) Idera or BioCryst may be unable to obtain stockholder approval as required for the merger; (ii) conditions to
the closing of the merger may not be satisfied; (iii) the merger may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (iv) the
effect of the announcement of the merger on the ability of Idera or BioCryst to retain and hire key personnel and maintain
relationships with customers, suppliers and others with whom Idera or BioCryst does business, or on Idera’s or BioCryst’s operating
results and business generally; (v) Idera’s or BioCryst’s respective businesses may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding
the merger and disruption of management’s attention due to the merger; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the
merger; (vii) Idera or BioCryst may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (viii) the
occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; (ix) risks
that the merger disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the
merger; (x) the risk that Idera or BioCryst may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the
transaction, or that required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the transaction or result in the imposition of
conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction or cause the parties to abandon the proposed
transaction; (xi) risks that the anticipated benefits of the merger or other commercial opportunities may otherwise not be fully
realized or may take longer to realize than expected; (xii) the impact of legislative, regulatory, competitive and technological
changes; (xiii) risks relating to the value of the new holding company shares to be issued in the merger; (xiv) expectations for
future clinical trials, the timing and potential outcomes of clinical studies and interactions with regulatory authorities; and
(xv) other risks to the consummation of the merger, including the risk that the merger will not be consummated within the expected
time period or at all. Additional factors that may affect the future results of Idera and BioCryst are set forth in their
respective filings with the SEC, including each of Idera’s and BioCryst’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K,
subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, which are available on the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. See in particular Item 1A of Idera’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2016 under the heading “Risk Factors” and Item 1A of BioCryst’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 2017 under the heading “Risk Factors.” The risks and uncertainties described above and in Idera’s most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and BioCryst’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not exclusive and further information concerning Idera and
BioCryst and their respective businesses, including factors that potentially could materially affect their respective businesses,
financial condition or operating results, may emerge from time to time. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in
evaluating these forward-looking statements, and not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Readers should also
carefully review the risk factors described in other documents that Idera and BioCryst file from time to time with the SEC. The
forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, Idera
and BioCryst assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information
becomes available in the future.
Investor Contacts:
For BioCryst
Thomas Staab
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals
Office: 919-859-7910
tstaab@biocryst.com
For Idera
Robert Doody
Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Idera Pharmaceuticals
Office: 617-679-5515
Mobile: 484‐639‐7235
rdoody@iderapharma.com
