BMP-7 Treats Kidney Injury and Prevents Blood Vessel Damage in Models of Chronic Renal Disease.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 2003

Compound developed by Curis and licensed to Ortho Biotech shows

promise as a potential treatment for chronic

progressive kidney disease 

Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRIS) today announced that two scientific studies were published last week demonstrating the potential of using BMP-7 as treatment to improve kidney function and prevent vascular disease associated with chronic progressive kidney disease.

BMP-7, which was developed by Curis for various kidney and neurological related disorders, was licensed in November 2002 to Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

The first study, "BMP-7, a novel therapy for diabetic nephropathy" published by Kidney International, showed that treatment with BMP-7 improves kidney function in a diabetes-associated model of chronic kidney disease. Diabetes is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease. The second study, "BMP-7 Is an Efficacious Treatment of Vascular Calcification in Murine Model of Atherosclerosis and Chronic Renal Failure" published in the Journal of the American Society for Nephrology, showed that BMP-7 treatment prevents the development of atherosclerosis (blood vessel disease) in a model of chronic progressive kidney disease. Heart disease caused by atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death among kidney dialysis patients. Both preclinical studies were conducted by Dr. Keith Hruska and his associates at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Lee Rubin, Curis' Chief Scientific Officer, commented, "Chronic progressive kidney disease is a serious problem worldwide. An agent that could improve kidney function and prevent vascular-associated disease would represent a major advancement in the field of chronic kidney disease."

Daniel Passeri, Curis' President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "These results are very encouraging and bolster an already large body of preclinical data that supports the therapeutic potential of BMP-7 as a treatment for chronic kidney disease. We are also very pleased that BMP-7's continuing development is now being conducted by Ortho Biotech. Ortho Biotech's depth of experience in protein-based pharmaceuticals and extensive kidney clinical trial expertise makes it the ideal partner to develop BMP-7's therapeutic potential."

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.