Grant and Patent Update

ARK THERAPEUTICS GROUP PLC

Substantial EU Framework Programme 7 Grant awarded for clinical development of Ark's pre-clinical product candidate EG013 in the treatment of fetal growth restriction

Ark receives Notice of Allowance of US patent for EG013

London, UK, 2 May 2012 - Ark Therapeutics Group plc (AKT: LSE) ("Ark" or "the Company") is pleased to announce it has received notice of the award of an EU Framework Programme 7 Grant of up to €6 million to a consortium led by UCL in which Ark is the sole industrial partner engaged in the research. The consortium includes some of the leading fetal medicine centres across Europe. The grant supports, over six years, the consortium's involvement in a research programme to conclude final pre-clinical toxicology and initiate the clinical development of Ark's EG013 programme, its adenoviral vector containing a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in the treatment of fetal growth restriction ("FGR") during pregnancy. The grant is subject to the formal process of contract negotiation with the European Commission ("EC") which is anticipated to reach conclusion in July 2012.

Ark has also been notified that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance in respect of Ark's patent covering its EG013 programme. Formal grant of this patent by the USPTO is expected in the next two months.

EG013 is an adenoviral vector containing the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-D) gene (Ad.VEGF-DΔNΔC) under development by Ark for the treatment of severe FGR in pregnant women during the second trimester. FGR affects up to 8% of pregnancies and is severe in approximately 1 in 500 fetuses. Cases of severe FGR occur when fetal growth velocity slows or fetal growth ceases altogether mid-pregnancy. Affected fetuses are extremely small, (

Professor John Martin, Chief Scientific Officer at Ark commented:

"The funding provided by this EU Framework grant will enable Ark's promising and unique gene-therapy programme in FGR to enter into clinical development and we look forward to working with so many pre-eminent fetal medicine centres throughout Europe in this project. We hope the FGR programme will ultimately improve the prognosis of fetuses affected by this serious condition for which there is currently no available treatment."

Martyn Williams, Chief Executive of Ark commented:

"The award of this grant for Ark's FGR product is further validation of the excellent science that underpins Ark's innovative early stage pipeline. It is also recognition of the potential of Ark's portfolio of products that deliver VEGF-D through an adenoviral vector for therapeutic angiogenesis."

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Ark Therapeutics Group plc

Ark Therapeutics Group plc is an innovative gene-based medicine company with operations in the UK and Finland that seeks to capitalise through partnerships on its pipeline of programmes in high value areas of unmet medical need within vascular disease and cancer, and to exploit its unrivalled viral manufacturing capability based in Kuopio, Finland. Ark Therapeutics' biological manufacturing operations provide process development and manufacturing for a growing number of third party clients for a variety of stages of therapeutic development, as well as for its own internal programmes.

Ark's research is focused on discovering new approaches to gene delivery using viral vectors with particular emphasis on genes that control tissue vascularisation, especially VEGF, and is based on the work of its two world-leading research centres in Kuopio and London. The Finnish group is led by Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala and is expert in the exploitation of viral technology to address serious medical problems, while Professor John Martin leads a team in London who have complementary skills in the understanding of biological structures and the development of small molecule agonists and antagonists. This combination of skills has resulted in Ark identifying and bringing forward a number of attractive programmes in gene therapeutics and small molecules.

Ark's shares were first listed on the London Stock Exchange in March 2004 (AKT.L).

This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" which include all statements other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, those regarding the Group's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to the Group's products and services), and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include forward-looking terminology such as the words "targets", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "can", "may", "anticipates", "would", "should", "could" or similar expressions or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Group's control that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the Group's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Group will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause the Group's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include those relating to Ark's funding requirements, regulatory approvals, clinical trials, reliance on third parties, intellectual property, key personnel and other factors. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. As a result of these factors, readers are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statement.