CURIS' BMP-7 Protein Drug Candidate Reported to Enhance Stroke Recovery; New Finding Cited in American Heart Association Publication.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 2003

CURIS, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRIS), the therapeutic drug development company, today announced the release of favorable findings surrounding CURIS' BMP-7 protein drug candidate.

In the current edition of Stroke, an American Heart Association publication, it is reported that BMP-7 can improve motor function after a stroke even when the compound is delivered intravenously into the blood stream twenty-four hours after the injury. Other previously published studies have shown that BMP-7 can promote functional recovery when administered up to three days after a stroke, but in those studies BMP-7 was injected directly into the brain (cerebrospinal) fluid.

The finding is further evidence of progress in CURIS' BMP-7 commercialization efforts. In November of 2002, CURIS licensed to Ortho Biotech (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) the rights to its BMP portfolio for neurological, renal, and other therapeutic indications. Under the agreement, Ortho Biotech is responsible for all decisions regarding the development of products from CURIS' BMP portfolio.

"The attraction of BMP-7 as a stroke drug candidate has been its ability to enhance the recovery of motor skills even when administered relatively late, one to three days after the stroke" said Daniel Passeri, CURIS' President and Chief Executive Officer. "The prospect that BMP-7's stroke recovery effects may be obtained by intravenous delivery instead of direct injection into the brain represents a significant step forward in the development of this promising drug candidate."

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 using proteins or small molecules to modulate these pathways, for example, increasing the pathway signals when they are insufficient or decreasing them when they excessive. CURIS has successfully used this technology and product development strategy 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.