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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 5, 2026

 

ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-38942   32-0595345
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

10285 Science Center Drive

San Diego, California 92121

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 900-2660

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class  

Trading

Symbol(s)

  Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share   ARCT   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Conditions.

 

On November 5, 2026, Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “Arcturus”) issued a press release, a copy of which is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1, announcing the Company’s financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 and providing a corporate update (the “Press Release”).

 

The information contained in Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including the Press Release, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In addition, this information shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any of the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K and the Press Release Contain 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 Current Report on Form 8-K and the Press Release, are forward-looking statements, including those regarding strategy, future operations, the likelihood of success of the Company’s pipeline (including ARCT-032, ARCT-810 and ARCT-2601), the timing of enrollment completion and data presentation for the ARCT-032 Phase 2 study, the timing of a decision to proceed into a Phase 3 study for ARCT-032 and the anticipated support from Thermo Fisher Scientific, the timing of initiation of dosing of, and initial data for, ARCT-2601, the timing of a planned IND submission for PKU, the potential of the LUNAR 2.0™ platform to support new therapeutic programs, including in PKU and gout, the anticipated benefits of the myNEO acquisition, the anticipated launch of KOSTAIVE® in the EU and UK, likelihood of approval of ARCT-032, ARCT-810 or ARCT-2601 in the United States or elsewhere, or their potential for therapeutic benefit, the likelihood that preclinical or clinical data, including interim data, will be predictive of future clinical results, its current cash position and expected cash runway, 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.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
   
99.1 Press Release dated November 5, 2026
104 Cover Page to this Current Report on Form 8-K in Inline XBRL

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 5, 2026 Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Joseph E. Payne
  Name: Joseph E. Payne
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Arcturus Therapeutics Announces Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Pipeline Progress

 

ARCT-032 (CF) Phase 2 enrollment completion YE 2026; data presentation Q2 2027

 

ARCT-2601 (OTC Deficiency), the first mRNA therapeutic candidate utilizing LUNAR 2.0™, Phase 2 dosing planned to begin Q1 2027; top-line data H2 2027

 

Investor conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today

 

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- November 5, 2026 -- Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (the “Company”, “Arcturus”, Nasdaq: ARCT), a messenger RNA medicines company focused on the development of liver and respiratory therapeutics, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, and provided corporate updates.

 

“The third quarter marked a pivotal step forward for our liver therapeutics franchise, with encouraging ARCT-810 Phase 2 results and the introduction of LUNAR 2.0™, our next-generation mRNA delivery platform, which demonstrated a 38-fold improvement over the key lipid in ARCT-810 in non-human primates,” said Joseph Payne, President & CEO of Arcturus. “We look forward to presenting data from our CF program in Q2 2027, followed by initial potential proof-of-concept data from ARCT-2601, our LUNAR 2.0™-formulated mRNA therapeutic for OTC deficiency, in H2 2027.”

 

Recent Corporate Highlights

·ARCT-032 (CF) Phase 2 full data from Cohort 4 are planned for presentation in Q2 2027. Cohort 4 evaluates 10 mg daily inhaled dosing over 12 weeks in up to 20 adults with cystic fibrosis (primarily class I). Enrollment has accelerated due to increased site activations in Israel and Turkey and is expected to be completed by year-end.
oARCT-032 is actively and financially supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific per the agreement. A decision to proceed into Phase 3 triggers significant contributions from Thermo. The timing of the decision is expected to occur before the planned Phase 2 data presentation.
·ARCT-810 Phase 2 interim data was presented in September. ARCT-810 is an mRNA therapeutic candidate to potentially treat ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency. ARCT-810 at 0.3 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg demonstrated meaningful biomarker activity, reducing and/or maintaining first-morning fasting ammonia within the normal range, including during increased protein intake, and reducing glutamine levels in all participants, with the 0.5 mg/kg dose achieving mean glutamine concentrations within the normal range during treatment, and was generally safe and well tolerated.
·LUNAR 2.0™, Arcturus’ next-generation mRNA delivery technology, demonstrated 38-fold greater potency than the key lipid in ARCT-810, in a non-human primate study based on human ornithine transcarbamylase (hOTC) expression.
·ARCT-2601 is the first mRNA therapeutic candidate utilizing LUNAR 2.0™ technology. Arcturus plans to initiate ARCT-2601 Phase 2 dosing in Q1 2027, with top-line data expected in H2 2027, following FDA feedback and clarity on the regulatory pathway from a June 2026 Type C meeting. The amended Phase 2 protocol is expected to incorporate ARCT-2601 into the ongoing ARCT-810 Phase 2 study and evaluate ARCT-2601 in participants with OTCD ages 12 years and older. Non-human primate (NHP) data suggests the potential for lower and/or less frequent dosing of ARCT-2601 compared to ARCT-810.

 

 

 

 

·The Company expanded its mRNA therapeutics pipeline to include programs targeting PKU and gout, supported by the LUNAR 2.0™ platform and the Company’s proprietary mRNA design and development capabilities.
oArcturus plans to submit an IND to the FDA for PKU in the second half of 2027. This investigational LUNAR 2.0™ formulated mRNA therapy is designed to enable the liver to produce functional PAH, the enzyme deficient in patients with PKU. By restoring PAH activity, the therapy is intended to improve phenylalanine metabolism and address the underlying cause of the disease.
·Arcturus has successfully completed the myNEO acquisition, integrating AI-driven capabilities in antigen design, mRNA optimization, and target identification to accelerate pipeline development and expand strategic opportunities in oncology.
·Meiji Seika Pharma, Arcturus’ partner in Japan, is distributing KOSTAIVE®, a self-amplifying mRNA COVID vaccine. Commercial sales of KOSTAIVE in Japan are ongoing for the 2026/2027 season.
·The Marketing Authorization Holders (MAHs) for KOSTAIVE® in the EU and UK were successfully transferred from CSL Seqirus to Arcturus in September and October 2026, respectively, in preparation for KOSTAIVE® commercial activities in 2027.
·Arcturus published the results of the Phase 1 study of the sa-mRNA pandemic influenza vaccine in Nature Communications, indicating immunological benefits versus standard of care, a favorable safety profile, and the potential for a single-dose pandemic response.

 

“We prioritize disciplined investment in the programs and technologies that we believe will create the greatest long-term value,” said Dennis Mulroy, Chief Financial Officer of Arcturus. “We continue to maintain a strong balance sheet and cash runway of over two years through year end 2028, allowing our company to reach important clinical and regulatory milestones for its rare disease pipeline.”

 

Financial Results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2026

 

Cash Position and Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents were $184.8 million as of September 30, 2026, and $230.9 million on December 31, 2025, for a decrease of $46.1 million. The decrease was primarily driven by cash used related to ongoing clinical development activities, including the continued advancement of the Company's cystic fibrosis and OTC deficiency programs, partially offset by the $12.0 million payment received from CSL Seqirus under the termination and settlement agreement.

 

Revenue in conjunction with strategic alliances and collaborations

Revenue was $18.3 million and $23.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, compared with $17.2 million and $74.8 million in the comparable periods last year. The increase in revenue for the three-month period was primarily driven by the recognition of the $12.0 million termination payment and the remaining deferred revenue upon termination of the CSL Seqirus collaboration, under which the Company regained strategic control of KOSTAIVE® and its broader vaccine portfolio, partially offset by lower grant revenue. The decrease for the nine-month period was primarily attributable to lower revenue recognized under the CSL Seqirus collaboration prior to its termination and lower BARDA grant revenue.

 

 

 

 

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses were $17.0 million and $56.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, respectively, compared with $23.3 million and $87.7 million for the corresponding periods in 2025. The decreases were primarily driven by reduced clinical and manufacturing activities, particularly across the LUNAR-COVID and BARDA programs, together with lower personnel and facilities costs, as the Company continued to advance its highest-priority programs while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $10.5 million and $30.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, compared with $10.4 million and $32.1 million in the comparable periods last year. General and administrative expenses remained relatively consistent for the three-month period, while the decrease for the nine-month period was primarily driven by lower payroll and benefit costs and lower share-based compensation expense, all resulting from lower headcount, and partially offset by an increase in legal and professional fees.

 

Net Loss

Net loss was $7.4 million and $58.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026, or a net loss per share of $0.26 and $2.05, compared to a net loss of $13.4 million and $36.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025, or a net loss per share of $0.49 and $1.35.

 

Earnings Call: Thursday, November 5, 2026 @ 4:30 p.m. ET 

·Domestic: 1-800-225-9448
·International: 1-203-518-9708
·Conference ID: ARCTURUS
·Webcast: https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1778913&tp_key=199e297c07

 

About Arcturus

Founded in 2013 and based in San Diego, California, Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ARCT) is a messenger RNA medicines company focused on the development of liver and respiratory therapeutics 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’ strategic collaborations include Thermo Fisher Scientific for ARCT-032 manufacturing and development, BARDA for pandemic influenza initiatives, and ARCALIS, a Japanese joint venture focused on manufacturing mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Arcturus’ pipeline includes programs in cystic fibrosis (CF), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, phenylketonuria (PKU) and Gout. Arcturus’ versatile RNA therapeutics platforms can be applied toward multiple types of nucleic acid medicines including messenger RNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), 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. Please connect with us on X 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, the likelihood of success of the Company’s pipeline (including ARCT-032, ARCT-810 and ARCT-2601), the timing of enrollment completion and data presentation for the ARCT-032 Phase 2 study, the timing of a decision to proceed into a Phase 3 study for ARCT-032 and the anticipated support from Thermo Fisher Scientific, the timing of initiation of dosing of, and initial data for, ARCT-2601, the timing of a planned IND submission for PKU, the potential of the LUNAR 2.0™ platform to support new therapeutic programs, including in PKU and gout, the anticipated benefits of the myNEO acquisition, the anticipated launch of KOSTAIVE® in the EU and UK, likelihood of approval of ARCT-032, ARCT-810 or ARCT-2601 in the United States or elsewhere, or their potential for therapeutic benefit, the likelihood that preclinical or clinical data, including interim data, will be predictive of future clinical results, its current cash position and expected cash runway, 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.

 

 

 

 

ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   September 30,
2026
  December 31,
2025
(in thousands, except par value information)   (unaudited)      
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $184,817   $230,909 
Accounts receivable   1,249    5,564 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   3,329    4,973 
Total current assets   189,395    241,446 
Property and equipment, net   4,807    6,736 
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net   19,086    21,081 
Non-current restricted cash   2,028    1,885 
Total assets  $215,316   $271,148 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $5,768   $4,235 
Accrued liabilities   22,158    23,898 
Deferred revenue   419    8,246 
Total current liabilities   28,345    36,379 
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion   18,244    20,784 
Total liabilities   46,589    57,163 
Stockholders’ equity          
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 60,000 shares authorized; issued and
outstanding shares were 28,461 at September 30, 2026 and 28,414 at December 31, 2025
   28    28 
Additional paid-in capital   741,452    728,547 
Accumulated deficit   (572,753)   (514,590)
Total stockholders’ equity   168,727    213,985 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $215,316   $271,148 

 

 

 

 

ARCTURUS THERAPEUTICS HOLDINGS INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
   September 30,  September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)  2026  2025  2026  2025
Revenue:            
Collaboration revenue  $16,852   $14,153   $18,342   $64,140 
Grant revenue   1,445    2,998    4,975    10,695 
Total revenue   18,297    17,151    23,317    74,835 
Operating expenses:                    
Research and development, net   16,998    23,265    56,040    87,736 
General and administrative   10,484    10,398    30,938    32,052 
Total operating expenses   27,482    33,663    86,978    119,788 
Loss from operations   (9,185)   (16,512)   (63,661)   (44,953)
Finance income, net   1,773    3,234    5,524    8,572 
Other expense   (2)   (170)   (26)   (319)
Net loss before income taxes   (7,414)   (13,448)   (58,163)   (36,700)
Provision for income taxes   —    —    —    4 
Net loss  $(7,414)  $(13,448)  $(58,163)  $(36,704)
Net loss per share, basic and diluted  $(0.26)  $(0.49)  $(2.05)  $(1.35)
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted   28,440    27,188    28,428    27,142 
Comprehensive loss:                    
Net loss  $(7,414)  $(13,448)  $(58,163)  $(36,704)
Comprehensive loss  $(7,414)  $(13,448)  $(58,163)  $(36,704)

 

Contacts

Arcturus Therapeutics
Public Relations & Investor Relations
Neda Safarzadeh
VP, Head of IR/PR/Marketing
(858) 900-2682
IR@ArcturusRx.com