Press Release

MALVERN, Pa., Nov. 21, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ACRS), a dermatologist-led, biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing innovative and differentiated therapies to address significant unmet needs in medical and aesthetic dermatology, today announced that Dr. Gabriel Mbalaviele presented data from pre-clinical studies of Aclaris’ recently acquired drug candidate, ATI-450 (formerly known as CDD-450), a selective inhibitor of the p38/MK2 pathway, at a symposium at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting earlier this month. The abstract summarizing the data is titled “NOMID-Associated Complications in Mice Are Prevented By CDD-450, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase-Activated Protein Kinase 2 (MK2) Pathway.”

In pre-clinical studies, ATI-450 was active in blocking multiple manifestations of the Neonatal-onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID) form of Cryopyrin associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) using an inducible transgenic murine model of the disease. CAPS are a spectrum of diseases arising from the gain of function mutations in NLRP3, a key component of the inflammasome, resulting in elevated systemic IL-β levels. Furthermore, ATI-450 inhibited cold-induced production of IL-1β from the blood of patients with another CAPS syndrome, Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS). These results confirm the key role of the p38/MK2 pathway in the IL-1β biosynthetic pathway and suggest the potential for ATI-450 to be an oral treatment for CAPS.

“This data is compelling, and clearly, further evaluation of ATI-450 as a potential oral treatment for CAPS is warranted,” said Dr. Joseph Monahan, Executive Vice President, Research & Development of Aclaris. “We look forward to advancing this program towards the clinic.”

About Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.

Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. is a dermatologist-led biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing innovative and differentiated therapies to address significant unmet needs in medical and aesthetic dermatology.  Aclaris is focused on large, underserved market segments with no FDA-approved medications or where treatment gaps exist.  Aclaris is based in Malvern, Pennsylvania and more information can be found by visiting the Aclaris website at www.aclaristx.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "may", "plan," "potential," "will," and similar expressions, and are based on Aclaris' current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include expectations regarding Aclaris’ preclinical and clinical development of its product candidates. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially include uncertainties inherent in the conduct of clinical trials, Aclaris' reliance on third parties over which it may not always have full control, and other risks and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of Aclaris' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, Aclaris’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, and other filings Aclaris makes with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. These documents are available under the "Financial Information" section of the Investors page of Aclaris' website at http://www.aclaristx.com. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Aclaris as of the date of this release, and Aclaris assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

Contact:

Aclaris Contact
Michael Tung, M.D. 
Investor Relations
484-329-2140
mtung@aclaristx.com

Source: Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.