Clinical data of CU-201, CUDC-101 presented at EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium

Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a drug development company seeking to develop next generation targeted small molecule drug candidates for cancer treatment, today announced the presentation of data in two poster presentations at the 22nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on "Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics," held in Berlin, Germany, November 16-19. One presentation is titled "Anti-Tumor Activity of CU-201, an Inhibitor of HDAC, SFK and Abl Kinases" and was presented by Rudi Bao, M.D., Ph.D., Curis' Senior Director of Oncology on November 17^th. The other presentation is titled "The First-in-Human, First-in-Class Study of CUDC-101, a Multi-Targeted Inhibitor of HDAC, EGFR and HER2: A Phase I Study in Patients with Advanced Cancer" and was presented by Toshio Shimizu, M.D., Ph. D., Visiting Clinical Fellow, South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics (START) on November 18^th.

“The First-in-Human, First-in-Class Study of CUDC-101, a Multi-Targeted Inhibitor of HDAC, EGFR and HER2: A Phase I Study in Patients with Advanced Cancer”

"CUDC-101 is the first in a series of candidates designed to address some of the challenges associated with kinase inhibitors given in monotherapy, which often either fail to produce clinical benefits or lead to resistance following kinase mutation or activation of compensatory pathways. We are extremely pleased that CUDC-101 has been shown to be well tolerated at pharmacologically meaningful concentrations, and we are encouraged by evidence of its biological activity observed in this first-in-human Phase I study," stated Dan Passeri, Curis President and Chief Executive Officer.

"We also expect to move additional network-targeted agents from our proprietary portfolio into clinical studies in the near future," Mr. Passeri continued. "In 2011, we expect to select at least one new development candidate, and are continuing studies in compounds targeting HDAC and PI3 kinase as well as in CU-201 and other molecules from this class. We also are currently exploring potential development collaborations around CU-201 and related compounds."

Curis' discovery and development efforts are focused on building a portfolio of small molecule network-targeted inhibitors against a wide range of cancer types. Compounds within each of Curis' research and development programs are designed to inhibit one or more validated cancer targets, including EGFR, Her2, PI3K, Abl, SRC family kinases and others, as well as the inhibition of histone deacetylase, or HDAC, a validated non-kinase cancer target. Each target combination is chosen for its potential of mechanistic synergy, an approach intended to disrupt cancer resistance networks and provide a more durable response for the cancer patient. This potential breakthrough approach in cancer therapy differentiates Curis from other cancer-focused companies.

SOURCE Curis, Inc.