Hedgehog Pathway Implicated in Ameloblastoma.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 2004

Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a therapeutic drug development company, today announced that the current issue of the Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine contains an article describing studies in which abnormal expression of the Hedgehog pathway has been detected in ameloblastomas. Ameloblastomas are rare but locally aggressive tumors that occur primarily in the jaw.

During the last several years, Curis has been developing cancer drug candidates designed to block or antagonize abnormal activation of the Hedgehog pathway. In June 2003, Curis exclusively licensed its Hedgehog pathway antagonist technologies to Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA).

The Hedgehog signaling pathway is one of the major regulatory mechanisms the body uses to develop and maintain various tissues. Abnormal Hedgehog pathway activation has been implicated in the progression of several cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, small cell lung cancer, medulloblastoma, pancreatic cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, and others.

In March 2004, Genentech announced that it had selected one of the Curis Hedgehog antagonist compounds (formerly known as CUR-61414, now designated as G-024856) as a clinical candidate to be used in clinical trials for basal cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 800,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

Daniel Passeri, Curis' President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The current scientific publication adds to the growing list of cancers that are associated with abnormal Hedgehog pathway activation. We are very pleased that the development of the Hedgehog pathway inhibition technologies is under the direction of Genentech. Genentech's proven expertise in the development of specifically targeted cancer therapeutics should provide the most effective clinical path forward for Curis' drug candidates."

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, alopecia, and cardiovascular disease. 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, including statements about Curis' drug discovery and development programs. Such statements may contain the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "seeks", "estimates" or similar expressions. These forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause Curis' actual results to be materially different from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Actual results can be affected by a number of important factors including, among other things: adverse results in Curis' and its strategic partners' product development programs; difficulties or delays in obtaining or maintaining required regulatory approvals; Curis' ability to obtain or maintain the patent and other proprietary intellectual property protection necessary for the development and commercialization of products based on its technologies; changes in or Curis' inability to execute its realigned business strategy; the risk that Curis does not obtain the additional funding required to conduct research and development of its product candidates and execute on its business plan; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures; risks relating to Curis' ability to enter into and maintain important strategic partnerships, including its ability to maintain its current collaboration agreements with Genentech, Ortho and Wyeth; the risk that competitors will discover and develop signaling pathway-based therapeutics faster and more successfully that Curis and its collaborators are able to; and other risk factors identified in Curis' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on 10-Q and any subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Curis disclaims any intention or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.