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): May 6, 2013 (May 2, 2013)

ARCA biopharma, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	000-22873	36-3855489
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

8001 Arista Place, Suite 200, Broomfield, CO 80021

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(720) 940-2200

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ 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 Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On May 6, 2013, ARCA issued a press release announcing that its Board member Burton E. Sobel had died on May 2, 2013. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Press Release titled “ARCA ANNOUNCES DEATH OF BOARD MEMBER BURTON E. SOBEL, PREEMINENT PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST AND ACADEMIC LEADER,” dated May 6, 2013.

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.

Dated: May 6, 2013

ARCA biopharma, Inc. (Registrant)
By:	/s/ Christopher D. Ozeroff
	Name: Christopher D. Ozeroff
	Title: SVP & General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release titled “ARCA ANNOUNCES DEATH OF BOARD MEMBER BURTON E. SOBEL, PREEMINENT PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST AND ACADEMIC LEADER,” dated May 6, 2013.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Contact:

Derek Cole

Investor Relations Advisory Solutions

720.940.2163

derek.cole@arcabiopharma.com

ARCA ANNOUNCES DEATH OF BOARD MEMBER BURTON E. SOBEL,

PREEMINENT PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST AND ACADEMIC LEADER

Broomfield, CO, May 6, 2013 – ARCA biopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ABIO), today announced that Burton E. Sobel, 75, a member of its Board of Directors, has died.

“Burt was recognized as one of the great academic physicians of our time. He did groundbreaking work in several fields of cardiovascular medicine including blood coagulation, which led to major advances in the treatment of heart attacks and other thromboembolic diseases, as well as seminal work on myocardial function and biochemistry in response to hemodynamic stress. Burt will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues and the many patients whose lives were greatly improved by his contributions to cardiovascular medicine.” commented Michael Bristow, MD, PhD, President and CEO of ARCA. “All of us at ARCA are deeply saddened by his passing.”

Sobel was a Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at the University of Vermont, Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University, and former Chairman of the Department of Medicine. Previously, he had held academic and leadership positions at other major research institutions. Sobel edited major cardiovascular and medical journals, and had over 800 manuscripts published. He was active in the pharmaceutical industry as well, and had served on several boards of directors in addition to ARCA. Sobel received numerous awards, including a Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health, a Distinguished Scientist Award from the American College of Cardiology and the Herric Award from the American Heart Association. He was a magna cum laude graduate of the Harvard Medical School.

www.arcabiopharma.com

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