Exicure, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, develops gene regulatory and immuno-oncology therapeutics based on spherical nucleic acid (SNA) technology. Its three clinical programs include AST-008, which is in a Phase I clinical trial, an SNA consisting of toll-like receptor 9 that is designed for immuno-oncology applications; XCUR17, which is in a Phase I clinical trial, an SNA that targets the messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding interleukin 17 receptor alpha, a protein that helps in the initiation and maintenance of psoriasis; and AST-005, which is in a Phase I clinical trial, an SNA that targets TNF for the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis. The company has collaboration agreement with Purdue Pharma L.P. Purdue Pharma for the development of AST-005; and license and development agreement DERMELIX, LLC, d/b/a Dermelix Biotherapeutics to research, develop, and commercialize Exicure's technology for the treatment of Netherton Syndrome and for five additional rare skin indications. Exicure, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Skokie, Illinois.