Curis Announces the Receipt of Second Extension of Funding from Genentech

Curis, Inc. has announced that, for the second time this year, Genentech has elected to extend funding of the cancer therapeutic development collaboration that is ongoing between the two companies.

An additional $1.25 million will be provided to support Curis personnel dedicated to developing Curis' Hedgehog antagonist technologies for the treatment of solid tumor cancers for the period of December 2005 through June 2006.

Genentech had previously supported Curis personnel and additional third party resources managed by Curis scientists.

The progress made by the two companies has reduced the need for these third party resources.

Daniel R. Passeri, Curis' President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are very pleased with the progress that Curis and Genentech scientists have made in the Hedgehog solid tumor program.”

“Genentech has selected a lead candidate, a small molecule antagonist of the Hedgehog pathway.”

“We believe that Genentech's continued funding support serves as further validation of the contribution that Curis scientists are providing to the Hedgehog inhibition solid tumor program."

In June 2003, Curis established collaboration with Genentech for the development of a set of technologies based on inhibition of the Hedgehog signaling pathway, including small molecule Hedgehog pathway antagonists.

Genentech's support of Curis personnel and other third-party resources dedicated to the collaboration was due to terminate in December 2005.