Connective Therapeutics Announces Presentation of Results From Long-Term Gamma Interferon Therapy.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 1996--Connective Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the presentation of clinical results from long-term administration of gamma interferon in patients with severe atopic dermatitis.

The data, which support previous clinical safety and efficacy results, were presented by Seth R. Stevens, M.D. of the Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University, at the Clinical Dermatology 2000 Meeting being held in Vancouver.

The long-term maintenance data were generated in an open label Phase II study in atopic dermatitis patients who previously completed a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of gamma interferon. Twenty-four patients completed one year of therapy and 16 patients completed two years. Overall response, body surface area involvement, and clinical severity scores for erythema (redness of the skin), edema (swelling), pruritis (itching), excoriations (scratch marks), scaling and lichenification (accentuation of skin markings) were monitored at quarterly visits.

The results indicated that all parameters of clinical severity were statistically significantly improved following one- and two-year gamma interferon therapy. Total body surface area involvement at the beginning of the trial averaged 56 percent for those who completed one year of study and averaged 60 percent for those who completed two years. Following gamma interferon therapy, these values were reduced to 21 percent and 36 percent, respectively. Side effects were minimal and no significant changes in the safety profile were apparent after two years chronic use.

"Because atopic dermatitis is such a chronic disease, it is imperative that any proposed therapy have persistent efficacy, with an acceptable safety profile over years of use in order to be effective in treating this illness," said Dr. Stevens. "With no other systemic therapy currently available which meets these criteria, we are particularly excited about the data generated for gamma interferon in this trial."

Overall, these data are consistent with results published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology from the 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II trial. In the study, patients who received gamma interferon experienced statistically significant improvement of overall disease severity, erythema, and excoriations/erosions compared to those patients who received placebo.

"We are pleased with the results from long-term administration of gamma interferon which confirm earlier efficacy results and demonstrate sustained disease improvement over time," said W. Scott Harkonen, M.D., senior vice president of Product Development and Operations at Connective. "These data support moving the product into advanced clinical testing in severe atopic dermatitis patients. We are tremendously excited about beginning our Phase III clinical trial in the near future."

Gamma interferon, a product Connective licensed from Genentech in 1995, is a protein involved in the regulation of the immune system. Because of its biological properties, Connective Therapeutics is initially developing gamma interferon for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and keloids. Genentech currently markets gamma interferon under the tradename Actimmune" (Interferon gamma - 1b) for the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease and is developing the product for other disease indications outside of Connective's licensed field.

Atopic dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disease, which in its severe form, can result in hospitalization and physical disfigurement, potentially resulting in psychological trauma. Recent market studies estimate that over 1.8 million individuals in the U.S. are afflicted with the disease, of which more than 100,000 patients suffer from the severe form. Current treatments provide only modest benefits and are associated with significant long-term side effects. Connective Therapeutics, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is focused on the development of novel therapeutics for serious connective tissue disorders. The company has three products in development for six initial indications: gamma interferon for atopic dermatitis and keloids; relaxin for scleroderma and other fibrotic indications; and TCR peptide vaccines for rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. -0-

Note to Editors: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those mentioned in Connective's prospectus dated January 31, 1996 under the heading "Risk factors" and in Connective's Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 under the heading "Additional Factors That May Affect Future Results."

CONTACT: Connective Therapeutics Inc.

Sylvia Wheeler, 415/843-2857