Oruka Therapeutics, Inc. ("Oruka") (NASDAQ:ORKA), a biotechnology company developing novel biologics designed to set a new standard for the treatment of chronic skin diseases, including plaque psoriasis, today announced the completion of its previously announced merger with ARCA biopharma, Inc. The combined company will operate under the name Oruka Therapeutics, Inc., and its shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Market today, September 3, 2024, under the ticker symbol "ORKA". In addition, Oruka announced the appointment of Samarth Kulkarni, PhD, current Chairman and CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics, as Chairman of Oruka's Board of Directors.

Concurrent with the merger, Oruka completed a previously announced $275 million private placement with a syndicate of new and existing investors including Fairmount, Venrock Healthcare Capital Partners, RTW Investments, Access Biotechnology, Commodore Capital, Deep Track Capital, Perceptive Advisors, Blackstone Multi-Asset Investing, Avidity Partners, Great Point Partners LLC, Paradigm BioCapital, Braidwell LP and Redmile Group, along with multiple large investment management firms. Following the merger, private placement, and reverse stock split, there are approximately 46.3 million shares of the combined company's common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding, including shares of common stock underlying pre-funded warrants and Series B non-voting convertible preferred stock, and excluding employee and director equity.