BMP-7 Reduces Inflammation and Improves Blood Flow in Models of Kidney Disease; Study Indicates Novel Mechanism for Treatment of Kidney Disorders.Attention Business and Science Editors CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 31, 2002 Findings published by Gould et al. in the recent issue of Kidney International indicates that Bone Morphogenic Protein-7 (also known as BMP-7 or OP-1) inhibits the expression of factors that promote inflammation and stimulates synthesis of other factors that promote blood flow within the kidney. BMP-7, which is being developed by Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : CRIS) for the treatment of kidney disease Kidney Disease Definition Kidney disease is a general term for any damage that reduces the functioning of the kidney. Kidney disease is also called renal disease. , had previously demonstrated increased survival rates and improved recovery times in several animal models of acute and chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also know as chronic renal disease, is a progressive loss of renal function over a period of months or years through five stages. Each stage is a progression through an abnormally low and progressively worse glomerular filtration rate, which is . The recent study provides evidence of a unique mechanism of action by which BMP-7 promotes recovery and reduces injury associated with kidney disorders. The study suggests that BMP-7 reduces damage by limiting the inflammatory cascade and subsequent fibrosis that follows the initial injury by reducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines Cytokines Chemicals made by the cells that act on other cells to stimulate or inhibit their function. Cytokines that stimulate growth are called "growth factors. and chemokines. At the same time BMP-7 maintains and enhances renal blood flow In the physiology of the kidney, renal blood flow (RBF) is the volume of blood delivered to the kidneys per unit time. In humans, the kidneys together receive roughly 20% of cardiac output, amounting to 1 L/min in a 70-kg adult male. through increased expression of vasodilators Vasodilators Definition Vasodilators are medicines that act directly on muscles in blood vessel walls to make blood vessels widen (dilate). Purpose Vasodilators are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). and reduced expression of receptors for vasoconstrictors. In an editorial accompanying the publication of these findings, Dr. Jeffrey Kopp of the Kidney Disease Section of the National Institutes of Health states "These effects may explain some of the beneficial effects of BMP-7 on tubular (kidney) cell injury seen in animals models." "These findings provide additional validation of Curis' belief that BMP-7 may represent the next significant advance in the treatment of kidney disease," said Daniel R. Passeri, President and Chief Executive Officer of Curis. "The coupling of this mechanistic study to the already large body of preclinical efficacy data should accelerate the pace of development and increase the visibility of Curis' Renal Therapeutics Program within the kidney medical community." The BMP (1) (BitMaP) Also known as a "bump" file, it is the native, bitmapped graphics format in Windows. A BMP can be saved in several color options: 1-, 4-, 8- and 24-bit color provide 2, 16, 256 and 16,000,000 colors respectively. BMP files use the .BMP or . family of proteins, including BMP-7, constitute one of the major developmental pathways used by the body to form tissues and organs in early development and then later used by the adult body to promote tissue maintenance, regeneration, and repair. Curis' partner, Stryker Corporation, attained marketing approval for BMP-7/OP-1 for use in bone regeneration in Europe and Australia and limited humanitarian use in bone regeneration in the United States. Beyond BMP-7's use in bone and kidney disorders, Curis is also pursuing the use of BMPs in the treatment of certain central nervous system disorders Nervous system disorders A satisfactory classification of diseases of the nervous system should include not only the type of reaction (congenital malformation, infection, trauma, neoplasm, vascular diseases, and degenerative, metabolic, toxic, or deficiency . Curis has a significant intellectual property position in the BMP field, based on an extensive patent portfolio involving rights to BMP compositions of matter, fields of medical use, numerous methodologies associated with BMPs. About Curis, Inc. Curis, Inc. is developing products based on technologies in the emerging field of regenerative medicine. The Company is combining insights gained through the study of developmental biology Developmental biology A large field of investigation that includes the study of all changes associated with an organism as it progresses through the life cycle. The life cycles of all multicellular organisms exhibit many similarities. with high-throughput screening capabilities, proteins, cells and biocompatible materials to facilitate the development of new regenerative medicine therapies. For more information, please visit the Curis web site at www.curis.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. These statements involve factors that may cause Curis' actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Specifically, by way of example and without limitation, some of the statements in this release and their achievement are subject to a number of factors including: Curis' ability to enter into a suitable partnership to develop BMP-7 to treat kidney disease; Curis' inability to devote sufficient resources to the development of BMP-7 for this indication; the possibility that a competitor may be able to develop a compound that is more efficacious than BMP-7 for this indication; and other risk factors described from time to time in Curis' periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, Curis' Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the year ended December 31, 2000 filed on March 30, 2001 and the Company's Post Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2001. Curis cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Moreover, neither Curis nor anyone else assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any forward-looking statements. Curis undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release. |
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