ARCA biopharma Named Winner of Corporate LiveWire Healthcare and Lifesciences Innovation Award

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Award for Excellence in Developing Cardiovascular Disease Therapies - 2016

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Seamless Design Phase 2B/3 Clinical Trial is Evaluating Potentially the First Genetically-Targeted Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation

ARCA biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABIO), a biopharmaceutical company applying a precision medicine approach to developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases, today announced that is has been named as one of the winners of the Corporate LiveWire 2016 Healthcare and Lifesciences Awards with the award for Excellence in Developing Cardiovascular Disease Therapies. ARCA’s GENETIC-AF clinical trial is a seamless design Phase 2B/3 clinical trial evaluating GencaroTM (bucindolol hydrochloride) as a potential treatment for atrial fibrillation.

“It is gratifying to see the hard work and dedication of our employees and clinical investigators recognized with this award,” said Dr. Michael R. Bristow, President and Chief Executive Officer of ARCA. “We believe we have an opportunity to potentially improve the treatment options for patients at risk for, or living with, atrial fibrillation, by addressing an unmet medical need in patients who also have heart failure and/or left ventricular dysfunction. We believe the Gencaro development program, if successful in GENETIC-AF, would also herald a new era of pharmacogenetically developed cardiovascular drugs.”

About ARCA biopharma

ARCA biopharma is dedicated to developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases through a precision medicine approach to drug development. The Company's lead product candidate, GencaroTM (bucindolol hydrochloride), is an investigational, pharmacologically unique beta-blocker and mild vasodilator being developed for atrial fibrillation. ARCA has identified common genetic variations that it believes predict individual patient response to Gencaro, giving it the potential to be the first genetically-targeted atrial fibrillation prevention treatment. ARCA has a collaboration with Medtronic, Inc. for support of the GENETIC-AF trial. For more information, please visit www.arcabio.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential attributes and features of Gencaro, the potential for genetic variations to predict individual patient response to Gencaro, Gencaro’s potential to treat atrial fibrillation, future treatment options for patients with atrial fibrillation, and the potential for Gencaro to be the first genetically-targeted atrial fibrillation prevention treatment. 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, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties associated with: the Company's financial resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet the Company's business objectives and operational requirements; results of earlier clinical trials may not be confirmed in future trials, the protection and market exclusivity provided by the Company’s intellectual property; risks related to the drug discovery and the regulatory approval process; and, the impact of competitive products and technological changes. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in ARCA’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and subsequent filings. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160913005436/en/

ARCA biopharma, Inc.Investor & Media Contact:Derek Cole, [e-mail]