CURIS' Proprietary Hedgehog Protein Restores Nerve Function In Models of Diabetes-Induced Nerve Damage.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2003

CURIS, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRIS) - The current issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation reports that a human protein called Sonic Hedgehog has restored nerve function in two independent studies of diabetes-induced nerve damage.

In collaboration with CURIS scientists, these studies were conducted in the laboratories of Dr. Nigel Calcutt at the University of California in San Diego and Dr. David Tomlinson at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.

Loss of nerve function and increased neuropathic pain occur in up to half of all diabetic patients and there is currently no satisfactory therapy for these conditions. The studies reported above used a model of diabetes to evaluate the potential therapeutic benefit of Sonic Hedgehog treatment. The results showed a complete normalization of both sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities that suggests a broad therapeutic benefit for multiple types of nerve damage. As Dr. David Tomlinson notes "thus far, Sonic Hedgehog has normalized all meaningful indices of nerve damage in this diabetes model. In 20 years experience of working in this field, this property is unique."

"Another interesting aspect of these studies is the observation that Sonic Hedgehog treatment increases the amount of several key neurotrophins which should be beneficial for different kinds of nerve fibers," stated Dr. Lee Rubin, CURIS' Chief Scientific Officer. "Collectively these studies reinforce CURIS' belief that compounds which modulate the Hedgehog signaling pathway represent an important new class of drug candidates to treat neurological disorders."

"The demonstration of two independent validations of Hedgehog's therapeutic benefit in diabetic neuropathy is an important step forward in CURIS' drug development process," noted Daniel Passeri, CURIS' President and Chief Executive Officer. "These observations, together with the positive results announced in November on Parkinson's Disease, plus the Company's recent discovery of small molecules that can mimic the activity of the Hedgehog protein, greatly increase the likelihood of success in our development of drugs to treat neurological disorders."

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.