NASDAQ Welcomes Conatus Pharmaceuticals to The NAS

NEW YORK, July 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NDAQ ) announced that trading of Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: CNAT ), a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines to treat liver disease, commenced on The NASDAQ Stock Market on July 25, 2013.

Conatus Pharmaceuticals "Conatus" is developing its lead compound, emricasan, for the treatment of patients in orphan populations with chronic liver disease and acute exacerbations of chronic liver disease. Conatus believes that emricasan has the potential to interrupt the progression of liver disease. Conatus' management team is comprised of the former senior executives of Idun Pharmaceuticals who discovered and led the development of emricasan at Idun until Idun was sold to Pfizer in July 2005. Conatus acquired the global rights to emricasan from Pfizer in 2010.

"Conatus is committed to developing original products that will break ground in the treatment of liver disease, "said Nelson Griggs, Senior Vice President, NASDAQ OMX Corporate Client Group. "NASDAQ OMX looks forward to a continued partnership with Conatus and its shareholders."

Contatus joins a variety of cutting-edge biotechnology companies that call NASDAQ OMX home. NASDAQ OMX has been the exchange of choice to over 96 percent of biotech companies that have listed on the U.S. markets year-to-date in 2013.

About Conatus Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Conatus is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel medicines to treat liver disease. Conatus is developing its lead compound, emricasan, for the treatment of patients in orphan populations with chronic liver disease and acute exacerbations of chronic liver disease. Emricasan is a first-in-class, orally active caspase protease inhibitor designed to reduce the activity of enzymes that mediate inflammation and cell death, or apoptosis. Conatus believes that by reducing the activity of these enzymes, emricasan has the potential to interrupt the progression of liver disease. For additional information, please visit www.conatuspharma.com .

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NASDAQ OMX Media Contact: Joe Christinat (646) 441-5121