Curis to Present Positive Preclinical Results for Drug Candidates in Several Models of Neuronal Cell Death in the Brain
Thursday November 6, 8:17 am ET
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2003--Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS - News) today announced that Dr. Tammy Dellovade, a Senior Scientist at Curis, will present data demonstrating efficacy for Curis' drug candidates in several models of neuronal cell death at the Society for Neuroscience conference being held November 8-12, 2003, in New Orleans. On Monday, November 10, Dr. Dellovade will present results indicating that small molecule Hedgehog pathway agonists (activators) are promising therapeutic candidates for the treatment of several neurological disorders, most prominently, stroke.
The drug candidate compounds used in these new studies are the subject of U.S. Patent U.S. 6,613,798 that was issued to Curis on September 2, 2003. That patent covers pharmaceutical compositions of numerous small molecule hedgehog agonists that are under development by Curis as treatments for various neurological diseases, including stroke. Stroke affects a large number of people in the U.S. with an estimated 700,000 strokes each year.
Dr. Lee Rubin, Curis' Chief Scientific Officer, said, "The positive effects of the Hedgehog agonists in these disease models is due to neuroprotection that is induced by activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Neuroprotection is the prevention of the progressive death of cells in the brain caused by disease or injury. In addition, we also know that prolonged activation of the Hedgehog pathway results in an increased proliferation of brain stem cells. We are currently exploring the exciting possibility that this will lead to the replacement of brain cells lost as a result of injury or disease."
Mr. Daniel Passeri, Curis' President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The combination of Hedgehog pathway stimulation of neuroprotection and the increased number of brain stem cells leads us to believe that the Hedgehog agonists represent an important new therapeutic approach to the treatment of neurological disease and injury."
About Curis, Inc.
Curis, Inc. is a therapeutic drug development company. The Company's technology focus is on regulatory pathways that control repair and regeneration. Curis' product development involves the use of proteins or small molecules to modulate these pathways. Curis has successfully used this technology and product development approach to produce several promising drug product candidates in the fields of kidney disease, neurological disorders, cancer, and alopecia (hair loss). For more information, please visit the Curis web site at www.curis.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements concerning Curis' or management's intentions, plans, expectations or predictions of future events are forward-looking statements. Such statements may contain the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates" or similar expressions. Forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Actual results can be affected by, among other things, uncertainties relating to product development, clinical trials, regulatory actions or delays, the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection, changes in or an inability to execute Curis' realigned business strategy and other risk factors identified in Curis' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Curis disclaims any intention or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.
Contact:
Curis, Inc.
Christopher U. Missling, Ph.D., 617/503-6587
or Marc F. Charette, Ph.D., 617/503-6629
Source: Curis, Inc. |
