Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Exicure To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options
NEW YORK - 
(NewMediaWire) - February 13, 2022 - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a
leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against
Exicure, Inc. (“Exicure” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: XCUR) and reminds investors
of the February 11, 2022 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a
federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.
There is no cost or obligation to you.
As detailed below, the lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) that there had been certain improprieties in Exicure's preclinical program for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia; (2) that Exicure lacked effective internal controls over the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data relating to Exicure's preclinical program for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia; (3) that, as a result, the Company misreported the efficacy of XCUR-FXN in various public presentations and SEC filings from (at least) January 7, 2021 through August 12, 2021; (4) that, as a result, the Company would have to suspend its development of XCUR-FXN for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
On November 15, 2021, after the market closed, Exicure filed a Form 12b-25 with the SEC stating that it could not timely file its quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2021. It explained that the Company was investigating “a claim made by a former Company senior researcher regarding alleged improprieties that researcher claims to have committed with respect to the Company’s XCUR-FXN preclinical program for the treatment of Friedreich’s ataxia.”
On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $0.30, or 28%, to close at $0.77 per share on November 16, 2021, on unusually heavy trading volume.
On November 19, 2021, before the market opened, Exicure issued a press release titled "Exicure, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Corporate Progress." Therein, Exicure disclosed that "[t]he Audit Committee has retained external counsel to conduct an internal investigation" regarding the claim by a former Company senior researcher regarding alleged improprieties with respect to the Company's XCUR-FXN preclinical program, and that "[t]he Company is currently unable to predict the timing or outcome of the investigation."
On this news, the Company's stock price fell $0.198, or 30%, to close at $0.46 per share on November 19, 2021, on unusually heavy trading volume.
On December 10, 2021, after the market closed, Exicure issued a press release titled "Exicure, Inc. Announces Results of Internal Investigation and Implementation of Strategic Measures to Reduce Cash Burn and Prioritize Pipeline Focus." Therein, Exicure announced the "results of its previously disclosed independent internal investigation" and disclosed that "misreported data was included in various public presentations and SEC filings from as early as January 7, 2021 through as late as August 12, 2021," that the data related to the efficacy of XCUR-FXN. The Company also announced that in response the wrongdoing, the Company was implementing "[a] staggered workforce reduction of approximately 50%, expected to be completed by January 2022," and an "[i]ndefinite suspension of further development of the Company's XCUR-FXN program for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia." The Company further disclosed that "Douglas Feltner, M.D., the Company's Chief Medical Officer, has agreed to assist in the wind down of the cavrotolimod and XCUR-FXN programs and will depart the Company on January 31, 2022." Exicure also replaced its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Giljohann, who would serve as Chief Technology Officer through January 31, 2022.
On this news, the Company's stock price fell $0.185, or 40.1%, to close at $0.27 per share on December 13, 2021 (the next trading day following December 10, 2021), on unusually heavy trading volume.
The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Exicure’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.
Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.
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