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Biotech / Medical : Elan Corporation, plc (ELN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Icebrg who wrote (3181)	9/17/2002 2:47:48 PM
From: Qualified Opinion	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10345

I wasn't expecting anything from Incara. One can look at Incara's financial position, past support and stock price to extrapolate the aforementioned opinion.

To: Icebrg who wrote (3181)	9/18/2002 9:06:33 AM
From: Icebrg	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10345

Sonic Hedgehog Reduces Behavioral Impairment in a Primate Model of Parkinson's Disease Wednesday September 18, 8:30 am ET CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2002--Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS - News) Promising new findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Sonic Hedgehog protein (Shh) under development by Curis for Parkinson's Disease and other nervous system disorders. The study showed treatment with Shh in a pre-clinical primate model of Parkinson's Disease reduced behavioral impairments and neural loss. Parkinson's Disease currently affects about 1,000,000 people with an estimated cost of over 5.6 billion dollars. These findings have significant potential implications. Current therapies address the alleviation of symptoms without limiting the progressive nature of the disease. Curis is currently developing several small molecule compounds that mimic the effects of Shh for several neural indications. These potent compounds show promising pharmacological properties, including the ability to cross the blood brain barrier after oral administration, and thus represent novel candidate therapeutics. The study, published in the September 18, 2002 volume of Neuroscience by Dr. Peter Jenner of Kings College London, utilized the MPTP model in which dopamine-producing neurons are damaged by administration of a toxin to the brain, resulting in behavioral impairments representative of Parkinson's Disease. Animals treated with Shh showed significant improvement in tests of locomotion and preserved brain tissue that is normally lost with disease progression. Furthermore, after treatment with L-DOPA, animals that had been previously treated with Shh showed significantly better movement than did non-Shh-treated controls. "These findings further demonstrate and expand the therapeutic potential of Shh for Parkinson's Disease as previously reported in rodent models in Curis' press release of February 25, 2002," said Daniel R. Passeri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Curis. "The results from this study support our intention to bring our small molecule candidates to the next stage of drug development." On July 18, 2001, Curis announced that it had formed a business venture with Elan Corporation, Plc ("Elan"), that is committed to the research and development of molecules that stimulate the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. The business venture is focused upon the development of therapeutics targeting a number of neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease. The data published in the Neuroscience article preceded the establishment of the business venture but played an important role in defining the focus of the collaboration. About Curis, Inc. Curis, Inc. is generating therapies that regulate the pathways used by the body to maintain and restore health. The company focuses on signaling pathways that govern the proliferation and differentiation of cells. These same pathways control maintenance, repair, and regeneration of tissues and organs from infancy through old age. This approach has created an approved product for bone regeneration and enables Curis to build a portfolio of product candidates in neurology, kidney disease, and cancer. For more information, please visit the Curis web site at www.curis.com.