LabCorp/ARCA biopharma GENETIC-AF Poster Selected for Presentation at the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Heart Failure...

ARCA biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABIO), a biopharmaceutical company developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases, today announced that a joint Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings (LabCorp®) (NYSE:LH) and ARCA personalized medicine abstract has been accepted for moderated poster presentation at the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America, being held September 14-17, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The poster describes the genetic test that is being used to select patients for GENETIC-AF, a Phase 2B/3 adaptive design clinical trial. The GENETIC-AF trial will evaluate Gencaro™ (bucindolol hydrochloride) as a potential treatment for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction who also have a specific genotype of the beta-1 adrenergic receptor (389 arginine homozygous), which ARCA believes is present in approximately 50% of the U.S. population. LabCorp is performing the genetic testing for the GENETIC-AF trial.

Melissa Barhoover, Ph.D., IVD Regulatory Manager at LabCorp Clinical Trials, and Christopher Dufton, Ph.D., Vice President, Clinical Development at ARCA, are scheduled to present “Personalized Medicine: Prospective Patient Selection Utilizing an ADRB1 Genotype Assay in the GENETIC-AF Clinical Trial” during the poster session Monday, September 15, 2014, 5:15 – 6:15 pm PT.

More information about the conference is available at: http://www.hfsa.org/annual_meeting.asp.

About ARCA biopharma

ARCA is dedicated to developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases. The Company's lead product candidate, Gencaro™ (bucindolol hydrochloride), is an investigational, pharmacologically unique beta-blocker and mild vasodilator being evaluated for atrial fibrillation in the Phase 2B/3 clinical trial GENETIC-AF, which began enrolling patients in the second quarter of 2014. 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.arcabiopharma.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release and the anticipated poster presentation contain "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, potential timing for patient enrollment in the GENETIC-AF trial, the sufficiency of the Company’s capital to support its operations, 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 SEC, including without limitation the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and subsequent filings. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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