Page 1

Exhibit 99.1 Aclaris Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Provides a Corporate Update Investigational New Drug Application for ATI - 2138 for the Treatment of Psoriasis Submitted in October 2021 Planning to Initiate Phase 2b Trial of Zunsemetinib ( ATI - 450 ) in Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Fourth Quarter of 2021 WAYNE , Pa . , Nov. 02 , 2021 ( GLOBE NEWSWIRE ) -- Aclaris Therapeutics , Inc. ( NASDAQ : ACRS ) , a clinical - stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno - inflammatory diseases , today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2021 and provided a corporate update . " This quarter we are pleased to announce the submission of an investigational new drug application for ATI - 2138 , our investigational oral ITK / TXK / JAK3 inhibitor , the third novel clinical candidate generated by our proprietary KINectⓇ drug discovery platform , " said Dr. Neal Walker , President & CEO of Aclaris . " If allowed , we plan to progress ATI - 2138 into a Phase 1 trial . We also continue to make progress toward initiating a Phase 2b trial of zunsemetinib ( ATI - 450 ) in moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis and Phase 2 trials of zunsemetinib in psoriatic arthritis and moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa , as well as our Phase 2b trial of ATI - 1777 in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis . " Research and Development Highlights : The global COVID - 19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve and has caused and may continue to cause Aclaris to experience disruptions that could impact the timing of its research and development and regulatory activities listed below . Clinical Programs MK2 Inhibitor Asset O Zunsemetinib ( ATI - 450 ) , an investigational oral small molecule MK2 inhibitor compound : ■ Zunsemetinib has been adopted as the nonproprietary name for ATI - 450 . ■ Aclaris plans to progress zunsemetinib into a Phase 2b trial in moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in the fourth quarter of 2021 . ■ Aclaris also plans to progress zunsemetinib into Phase 2 trials in psoriatic arthritis and moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa . ■ In pre - clinical studies , positive effects on MK2 inhibition have been observed for breast cancer metastasis and cancer - associated bone loss . " Soft " JAK Inhibitor Asset 0 ATI - 1777 , an investigational topical " soft " Janus kinase ( JAK ) 1/3 inhibitor compound : ■ Aclaris plans to progress ATI - 1777 into a Phase 2b trial in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in the first half of 2022. In this trial , Aclaris plans to explore multiple concentrations of twice daily treatment with ATI - 1777 and a single concentration of once daily treatment with ATI - 1777 . Preclinical Programs 0 ATI - 2138 , an investigational oral ITK / TXK / JAK3 ( ITJ ) inhibitor compound : ■ Currently being developed as a potential treatment for T - cell mediated diseases such as psoriasis and / or inflammatory bowel disease .