Conatus Pharmaceuticals Announces Poster Presentation at AASLD Annual Meeting

Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:CNAT) announced today the presentation of a poster addressing results with the company’s pan-caspase inhibitor IDN-7314 in a mouse model of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) at The Liver Meeting®, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in Washington, DC, October 20-24, 2017.

Poster #287, “Cholestasis induced intestinal dysbiosis augments liver disease in a murine model of primary sclerosing cholangitis,” will be presented by lead author Lijun Liao, Researcher in the Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.

The poster will be displayed in the Poster and Exhibit Hall on Level 2 of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Poster Session I on Friday, October 20, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT, with authors available for discussion at the posters from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EDT.

IDN-7314 is an orally active pan-caspase protease inhibitor designed to reduce the activity of enzymes that mediate inflammation and cell death (or apoptosis), which has demonstrated reduction of relevant biomarkers in two preclinical models of PSC. The Mdr2-/- mouse model is considered the current benchmark nonclinical model of PSC. IDN-7314 also reduced biochemical markers in a new acute preclinical model of PSC. These results suggest the involvement of caspases in the progression of PSC.

About Conatus PharmaceuticalsConatus is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines to treat liver disease. In collaboration with Novartis, Conatus is developing its lead compound, emricasan, for the treatment of patients with chronic liver disease. Emricasan is a first-in-class, orally active pan-caspase inhibitor designed to reduce the activity of enzymes that mediate inflammation and apoptosis. Conatus believes that by reducing the activity of these enzymes, caspase inhibitors have the potential to interrupt the progression of a variety of diseases. For additional information, please visit www.conatuspharma.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding caspase inhibitors' potential to interrupt the progression of a variety of diseases. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those risks described in the company’s prior press releases and in the periodic reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The events and circumstances reflected in the company’s forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, the company does not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

CONTACT: Alan EngbringConatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.(858) [e-mail]