CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct 2, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Curis, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRIS) today announced that the October online
issue of The FASEB Journal contains a preclinical report demonstrating that Hedgehog signaling reduces the activity of
nerve cells from the subthalamic nucleus, a region of the brain that is abnormally stimulated in Parkinson's disease.
Increased levels of nerve activity in the subthalamic nucleus contributes to the movement disorders characteristic of
Parkinson's disease, and surgical removal of this region of the brain is one current therapeutic approach to treating
this disease. The authors of this study suggest that stimulation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway could have a
therapeutic benefit in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, and that this approach may be an effective alternative to
surgery.
The report, entitled "Sonic Hedgehog is a Neuromodulator in the Adult Subthalamic Nucleus," is based on preclinical
research performed at several laboratories, including the Universite Victor Segalen in France, the University of
Manchester in the United Kingdom, and the Toronto Western Research Institute in Canada. Consistent with the finding
that Hedgehog signaling can modulate nerve cell activity, the authors also observed that Hedgehog signaling is
abnormally reduced in a model of Parkinson's disease. This finding suggests that reduced levels of Hedgehog signaling
may play a role in the pathology of Parkinson's disease, and that agents that restore Hedgehog signaling to normal
levels in the brain may have a therapeutic benefit in patients with this disease.
Curis is developing drug candidates that activate the Hedgehog signaling pathway for the treatment of Parkinson's
disease and other neurological disorders. These small-molecule drug candidates can be given orally and readily reach
the brain to stimulate the Hedgehog signaling pathway in preclinical animal models.
Dr. Lee Rubin, Curis' Chief Scientific Officer, said, "We have already demonstrated that administration of Hedgehog
protein or small molecule Hedgehog agonist drugs can promote recovery in animal models of Parkinson's disease. This
report increases our understanding of the potential mechanisms of action by which our drug candidates exert these
positive effects."
Daniel Passeri, Curis' President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "This publication further supports the hypothesis
that enhancement of Hedgehog signaling may be therapeutically useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. As
always, we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with academic researchers to increase our insight into the
biology of the Hedgehog signaling pathway."
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.
SOURCE: Curis, Inc.
CONTACT: For Curis, Inc.
Christopher U. Missling, Ph.D., 617-503-6587
or
Marc F. Charette, Ph.D., 617-503-6629
URL: http://www.businesswire.com
SOURCE: Business Wire / MacroWorld Investor
http://www.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=74461851
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