Business
Exicure Provides Business Update Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
- Phase 2 stage of its Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of AST-008 is still expected to begin in 2nd quarter - Research labs open for critical R&D activity;
About this update from Exicure, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n- Phase 2 stage of its Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of AST-008 is still expected to begin in 2nd quarter\n\n\n- Research labs open for critical R&D activity; progress continues on Friedreich’s Ataxia development and collaboration programs\n\n\n- Preliminary unaudited cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments as of February 29, 2020 was $107.7 million\n\n CHICAGO & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nExicure, Inc. (NASDAQ:XCUR), the pioneer in gene regulatory and immunotherapeutic drugs utilizing spherical nucleic acid (SNA™) technology, today provided an update on the Company’s operations in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the Company’s current evaluation of the impact the pandemic may have on the Company’s clinical trials, preclinical research and development (R&D) and general business operations.\n\n\n“Exicure is carefully monitoring the developing COVID-19 crisis and we have taken active measures, both as required by government regulation and as judgement suggests, to protect the health of our employees, their families, our communities, as well as clinical trial investigators, patients, and caregivers,” said Dr. David Giljohann, Exicure’s Chief Executive Officer. “While health and safety are our first priorities, we also have a strong commitment to our fundamental mission of serving patients with unmet medical needs. We are taking appropriate actions to continue our critical research and development programs and are grateful to our employees and their families for their commitment to this mission.”\n\n\nEmployees and Business Operations\n\n\nOn March 21, 2020, Governor Pritzker of Illinois announced a “stay-at-home” order restricting all Illinois residents to their homes, with few limited exceptions, until at least April 7, 2020. However, the Governor also designated certain businesses, such as biotechnology companies, as “essential” businesses, thereby permitting Exicure to continue its R&D operations. The Company continues to pursue its pre-clinical development programs and clinical programs as further described below.\n\n\nAST-008, for Immuno-oncology\n\n\nExicure continues to monitor its ongoing trial of AST-008. As previously disclosed, the Company is completing the Phase 1b stage of its Phase 1b/2 clinical trial of AST-008 in both Merkel cell carcinoma and in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and i...