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Curis Compound Stimulates Replication of Brain Progenitor Cells; Findings Suggest Strategy for Regeneration of Tissues in Damaged Brains CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2003--Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS) today announced that the current issue of the scientific journal Neuron contains a report demonstrating that the Hedgehog signaling pathway is required for the formation and maintenance of brain progenitor cells. These progenitor cells are the precursors of the nerve cells and support cells that populate the brain. This report also shows that orally administered small molecule agonists developed by Curis can activate the Hedgehog pathway and induce new progenitor cell formation in the brain and, as result, may stimulate normal regenerative processes and promote brain recovery from injury. The report, entitled "Sonic Hedgehog is Required for Progenitor Cell Maintenance in Telencephalic Stem Cell Niches," was published online yesterday in the journal Neuron. The research was performed by laboratories at the New York University Medical Center, Harvard University, Goteborg University, and Curis, Inc. The authors conclude that use of Hedgehog agonists may constitute a new therapeutic approach to the repair of brain damage and that "this strategy may allow the body's own developmental pathways and resident progenitor cells to be utilized for regenerative therapies." Dr. Lee Rubin, Curis' Chief Scientific Officer, said, "The ability of Curis' Hedgehog agonists to promote the development of new nerve cells represents an important advance in our understanding of the potential mechanisms by which these drug candidates exert their reparative/regenerative effects. We have already observed that stimulation of the Hedgehog pathway by agonists can minimize tissue damage in response to injury, such as stroke. These new data and our own internal research suggest a broader, perhaps more fundamental, role in promoting tissue regeneration by stimulating the formation of new nerve cells within the brain itself." Daniel Passeri, Curis' President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "This new report adds to the increasingly large body of evidence that validates the Hedgehog pathway as a significant target for the development of new drug candidates for neurological disorders. Recently, we have seen that Curis' Hedgehog agonist drug development candidates have shown efficacy in models of Parkinson's disease, diabetic neuropathy, and stroke. The potential of being able to use these Hedgehog agonists to induce the brain to form new nerve cells opens the door to many new therapeutic opportunities." 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. Contacts Curis, Inc. Christopher U. Missling, Ph.D., 617-503-6587 Chief Financial Officer Marc F. Charette, Ph.D., 617-503-6629 Vice President, Corporate Communications SOURCE: Business Wire (press release) http://tinyurl.com/na5r * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn