ARCT-032 generally safe and well tolerated

Meaningful trends of clinical activity observed via high resolution CT scans

After only 28 days of treatment with ARCT-032 (10 mg), 4 out of 6 Class I CF participants exhibited encouraging reduction of mucus plug number and mucus volume

12-week study enrolling up to 20 CF participants planned to begin first half of 2026

Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (the “Company”, “Arcturus”, Nasdaq: ARCT), a commercial messenger RNA medicines company focused on the development of liver and respiratory rare disease therapeutics and infectious disease vaccines, today announced interim results from its ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of ARCT-032, an investigational inhaled mRNA therapy for people with cystic fibrosis.

In the second cohort of the study, six Class I CF adults received inhaled 10 mg doses of ARCT-032 daily over 28 days. The treatment was generally safe and well tolerated. Treatment related AEs that were identified in the single-dose Phase 1 study were also observed in some participants for the first few doses but ceased with continued dosing. One SAE occurred in a participant well after the end of the dosing period. The Data Monitoring Committee found no convincing evidence that the SAE is related to ARCT-032 and approved the study to proceed. The expanded third cohort is ongoing and aims to enroll up to six subjects to determine if there is a dose escalation response at 15 mg and if ARCT-032 continues to be generally safe and well tolerated. The Company intends to initiate a 12-week safety and preliminary efficacy study in up to 20 CF participants in the first half of 2026.

“We are particularly encouraged by the early signals of mucus plug reduction in Class I CF participants treated with ARCT-032 because Class I CF individuals do not produce CFTR and therefore do not respond to available CFTR modulator therapy,” said Juergen Froehlich, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Arcturus. “The AI-enhanced lung imaging data before and after treatment with ARCT-032, supported by exploratory FEV₁ lung function data analysis in this short-term study, warrant further investigation at higher doses and longer treatment durations. We look forward to initiating our 12-week study in the first half of next year for this promising therapeutic intended to address significant unmet medical need.”

“The early imaging data from this trial are encouraging,” said Dr. Harm Tiddens, Professor Emeritus of Pediatric Pulmonology at Erasmus Medical Center, and internationally respected expert in the field of imaging techniques and imaging outcome measures for chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis. “Seeing a trend towards a reduction in mucus plugs and volume after only 28 days of treatment suggests biological activity. Mucus plug reduction can be followed with longer-term lung function improvements over multi-month treatment durations. These findings suggest that ARCT-032 may be addressing the underlying pathology of cystic fibrosis in a meaningful way.”

Exploratory Lung Function Analysis Suggests Potential Therapeutic Activity

Initial analysis comparing FEV₁ values from Day 1 to Day 28 did not demonstrate meaningful improvement. However, a post hoc exploratory analysis comparing the average of two pre-treatment FEV₁ measurements (screening and Day 1) for the baseline with the Day 42 post-treatment value, assuming an extended activity of functional CFTR protein triggered by daily ARCT-032 administration, suggests improvements in lung function, in four of six Class I CF participants with an average absolute increase of 3.8% and a relative increase of 5.1% in percent predicted FEV₁ (ppFEV₁). While the magnitude of these changes falls within the range of natural variability of FEV₁ measurements, such exploratory analyses can provide valuable directional signals, though they warrant cautionary interpretation. Full FEV₁ data tables are available on Arcturus’ website.

AI-enhanced High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Data Show Encouraging Mucus Reduction

High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans, analyzed using FDA 501(k)-cleared AI technology from Thirona, revealed reductions in mucus burden in four of six Class I CF participants. Decrease in mucus plugs and mucus volume in four of six Class I CF participants is a meaningful trend indicative of ARCT-032 therapeutic activity. Before and after HRCT scan images of the four subjects that exhibited mucus plug reduction are available on Arcturus’ website.

A larger, longer-duration study is planned to substantiate the clinical relevance of these findings. The HRCT mucus reduction and supporting lung function data from the second cohort (10 mg), combined with additional data collected from the ongoing third cohort (15 mg) will guide dose selection, treatment duration, and endpoint strategy for future studies, including the conduct of a 12-week safety and preliminary efficacy clinical trial that is planned to begin in the first half of 2026.

About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a life-shortening disease with a worldwide distribution. Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene result in a reduction or absence of CFTR protein and/or function in the airways, causing insufficient chloride transport to maintain airway surface homeostasis. CF mucus is more difficult to clear, thus clogging the airways and leading to infection, inflammation, respiratory failure, or other life-threatening complications. Currently approved CFTR modulator therapies are designed to increase function of the CFTR channel to help reduce symptoms yet are ineffective in some people with CF because of their underlying mutations.

About ARCT-032

ARCT-032 has received Orphan Medicinal Product Designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat Cystic Fibrosis. ARCT-032 utilizes Arcturus' LUNAR^® lipid-mediated aerosolized platform to deliver CFTR messenger RNA to the lungs. Expression of a functional copy of the CFTR mRNA in the lungs of people with CF has the potential to restore CFTR activity and mitigate the downstream effects that cause progressive lung disease. The ARCT-032 program is supported by preclinical data in rodents, ferrets and primates, as well as demonstrating restoration of CFTR expression and function in human bronchial epithelial cells.

About Arcturus

Founded in 2013 and based in San Diego, California, Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCT) is a commercial mRNA medicines and vaccines company with enabling technologies: (i) LUNAR® lipid-mediated delivery, (ii) STARR® mRNA technology (sa-mRNA) and (iii) mRNA drug substance along with drug product manufacturing expertise. Arcturus developed KOSTAIVE®, the first self-amplifying messenger RNA (sa-mRNA) COVID vaccine in the world to be approved. Arcturus has an ongoing global collaboration for innovative mRNA vaccines with CSL Seqirus, and a joint venture in Japan, ARCALIS, focused on the manufacture of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Arcturus’ pipeline includes RNA therapeutic candidates to potentially treat OTC deficiency and cystic fibrosis (CF), along with its partnered mRNA vaccine programs for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and influenza. Arcturus’ versatile RNA therapeutics platforms can be applied toward multiple types of nucleic acid medicines including messenger RNA, small interfering RNA, circular RNA, antisense RNA, self-amplifying RNA, DNA, and gene editing therapeutics. Arcturus' technologies are covered by its extensive patent portfolio (over 500 patents and patent applications in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and other countries). For more information, visit www.ArcturusRx.com. In addition, please connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

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. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, are forward-looking statements, including those regarding strategy, future operations, trends of clinical activity observed including reductions in mucus plugs and potential biological activity, the potential of ARCT-032 to address the underlying pathology of cystic fibrosis, the continued clinical development of ARCT-032 including the initiation and size of a third cohort in the CF study, plans to initiate a 12-week safety and preliminary efficacy study including the size and timing therefore, the continued determination of ARCT-032 to be generally safe and well tolerated including ongoing review of adverse events, the likelihood of success (including safety and efficacy) of ARCT-032, and the impact of general business and economic conditions. Arcturus may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in any forward-looking statements such as the foregoing and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These statements are only current predictions or expectations, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Arcturus’ most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in subsequent filings with, or submissions to, the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as otherwise required by law, Arcturus disclaims 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251021837263/en/