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): September 13, 2016
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA | 001-34949 | 980597776 |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
| 100-8900 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5J 5J8 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) |
(604) 419-3200
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
| 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)) | |
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On September 13, 2016, the Registrant issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit 99.1. Press release dated September 13, 2016
SIGNATURE
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.
| Arbutus Biopharma Corporation | ||
| Date: September 13, 2016 | By: | /s/ Bruce G. Cousins |
| Bruce G. Cousins | ||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
EXHIBIT 99.1
Arbutus’ Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Michael J. Sofia, Awarded the 2016 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award
VANCOUVER, British Columbia and DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Sept. 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (Nasdaq:ABUS), an industry-leading Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) therapeutic solutions company, today announced that Dr. Michael J. Sofia, Arbutus’ Chief Scientific Officer, has been awarded the 2016 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for the development of a revolutionary treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Dr. Sofia now leads a world class team of scientists at Arbutus that is focused on developing innovative therapies to improve cure rates in HBV.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive the Lasker~DeBakey Award for Clinical Medical Research, in recognition of the work that led to the discovery of sofosbuvir. Sofosbuvir is the backbone of HCV curative regimens which have given new hope to the 170 million HCV sufferers worldwide,” said Dr. Michael J. Sofia, Arbutus’ Chief Scientific Officer. “Now that there is a cure for HCV, I am excited to be working with my colleagues at Arbutus to develop a cure for chronic HBV infection, an unmet medical need that affects an even larger worldwide patient population.”
For 71 years, the Lasker Awards, America’s most prestigious biomedical research awards, have recognized the contributions of scientists, clinicians, and public citizens who have made major advances in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of human disease. Recipients of the Lasker Medical Research Awards are selected by a distinguished international jury chaired by Dr. Joseph L. Goldstein, recipient of the 1985 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Eighty-seven Lasker laureates have received the Nobel Prize, including 41 in the last three decades.
About Arbutus
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing a cure for patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B infection. Arbutus is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada with offices in Doylestown, PA, USA. For more information, visit www.arbutusbio.com.
About the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation
Founded in 1942, the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation envisions a healthier world through the advancement of medical research. It seeks to improve health by accelerating support for medical research through recognition of research excellence, education, and advocacy. For much of the 20th century, the Foundation was led by Mary Lasker, who was America's most prominent citizen-activist for public investment in medical research. She is widely credited with motivating the White House and Congress to greatly expand federal funding for medical research, particularly through the NIH. For more information on the Lasker Award recipients, the full citations for each award category, video interviews and photos of the awardees, and additional information on the Foundation please refer to www.laskerfoundation.org.
Contact Information
Investors
Adam Cutler
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs
Phone: 604.419.3200
Email: acutler@arbutusbio.com
Helia Baradarani
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: 604.419.3200
Email: hbaradarani@arbutusbio.com
Media
Please direct all media inquiries to: media@arbutusbio.com