Hedgehog signaling...and Restores Nerve Function

[Guest guest]

Hedgehog Signaling Promotes Blood Vessel Development and Restores Nerve

Function

BIOWIRE2K September 20, 2004

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2004--Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ:

CRIS), a therapeutic drug development company, today announced that the

current online issue of the medical journal Arteriosclerosis,

Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology contains a report demonstrating that

activation of the Hedgehog pathway results in the formation of new blood

vessels that contribute to the restoration of nerve function in a

diabetes-induced nerve damage preclinical model. The Hedgehog signaling

pathway is a major regulatory mechanism within the body that normally

controls development and regeneration of certain tissues and organs,

including blood vessels and nerves.

The scientific report, authored by researchers from the St. 's

Medical Center of Boston, Massachusetts, and Curis, is entitled " Sonic

Hedgehog Induces Arteriogenesis in Diabetic Vasa Nervorum and Restores

Function in Diabetic Neuropathy. " In the study the authors demonstrate

that activation of the Hedgehog pathway in a diabetes preclinical model

results in the normalization of a repertoire of blood vessel and nerve

cell growth factors and a restoration of the normal architecture of the

major blood vessels that supply nutrients to nerve cells.

Curis has developed several technologies designed to activate the

Hedgehog pathway, including drug-like small molecules. In January 2004,

Curis entered into an agreement to license Hedgehog pathway agonist

technologies to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE).

The agreement provides for the development of drug products based on the

Hedgehog agonist technologies for applications in treatment of

neurological disorders, such as stroke, diabetic neuropathies, and other

disorders. Curis has retained the rights to use the Hedgehog pathway

agonist technologies in the development of locally administered drug

candidates to treat cardiovascular disorders, such as heart attacks and

peripheral vascular disease.