8-K

 

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): April 8, 2005

ArQule, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	000-21429	04-3221586
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction	_____________ (Commission	______________ (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)
19 Presidential Way, Woburn, Massachusetts		01801
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices)		___________ (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 781-994-0375

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

(d) Election of Directors.

On April 8, 2005, the directors of ArQule, Inc. elected Michael J. Astrue to ArQule’s Board of Directors. The press release describing Mr. Astrue’s professional background and qualifications is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. There was no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Astrue and any other person associated with ArQule pursuant to which he was selected as a director.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits

99.1 Text of Press Release dated April 11, 2005.

SIGNATURES

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.

	ArQule, Inc.
April 11, 2005	By:	Stephen A. Hill
		Name: Stephen A. Hill
		Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release

EX-99.1

Contacts:
Dr. Stephen A. Hill, CEO
Louise A. Mawhinney, CFO
(781) 994-0300
www.ArQule.com

For Immediate Release:

ARQULE ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF
MICHAEL J. ASTRUE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Woburn, Mass., April 11, 2005 – ArQule, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARQL) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Michael J. Astrue to its Board of Directors, effective April 8, 2005. Mr. Astrue is President and Chief Executive Officer of Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. He brings two decades of public and private sector experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. He has served as Chairman of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and, before joining Transkaryotic Therapies, was Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel for Biogen, Inc. Mr. Astrue was also a partner at the law offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., held several positions with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including General Counsel, and served as Associate Counsel to the President, where he advised and represented former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.

Mr. Astrue holds a Bachelors degree from Yale University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

“I am honored that Michael Astrue has agreed to offer his extensive and unique professional and biotechnology experience to ArQule. He will be a great addition to our current Board of Directors,” said Dr. Stephen A. Hill, ArQule’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

“I believe ArQule has developed an innovative technology platform that will allow it to emerge as a significant player in the area of oncology and I am delighted to become part of their team,” said Mr. Astrue.

About ArQule

ArQule, Inc. is a biotechnology company engaged in research and development of next-generation small-molecule cancer therapeutics based on its innovative Activated Checkpoint Therapy^SM (ACT^SM) platform. ACT^SM compounds are intended to improve the way cancer patients are treated because they selectively kill cancer cells and spare normal cells by restoring and activating cellular checkpoints that are defective in cancer. ArQule’s lead program based on E2F elevation is partnered with Roche. In addition to advancing its own programs, ArQule continues to advance the drug discovery efforts of pharmaceutical collaborators by providing high-quality library design and compound production, including a collaboration with Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.ArQule.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ArQule. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements or historical performance due to numerous risks and uncertainties that exist in ArQule’s operations, development efforts and the business environment, including without limitation: the ACT^SM platform may not improve efficacy or reduce toxicity and compounds resulting from the platform may not operate as intended; the preclinical efforts associated with the ACT^SM pipeline may fail or prove disappointing; collaborators may terminate their agreements with ArQule because ArQule may fail to satisfy the collaborators’ needs or for other reasons; and, the risks and uncertainties described in ArQule’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2005, its Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on November 9, 2004, its Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 4, 2004, and its Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 7, 2004. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of ArQule as of the date of this report. ArQule disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement except to the extent required by law.

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