Curis Issued U.S. Patent Covering Method for Treating Stroke

Business Wire, July 29, 2004

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Patent part of technology portfolio licensed to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals for multiple therapeutic applications

Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a therapeutic drug development company, today announced that it was issued U.S. patent 6,767,888, entitled "Neuroprotective methods and reagents." The claims of this patent recite methods for treatment with Hedgehog pathway stimulating polypeptides to limit the damage caused to the brain by a stroke or other ischemic condition. Stroke affects an estimated 700,000 people each year in the U.S. and is the third leading cause of death in most developed countries and the leading cause of disability in adults.

In January 2004, Curis entered into an agreement to license this patent and other related patents and patent applications associated with the Hedgehog pathway to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), on an exclusive worldwide, royalty-bearing basis. The agreement provides for the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products based on Hedgehog pathway technologies for therapeutic applications in treatment of stroke and other disorders.

The Hedgehog pathway is one of the major regulatory mechanisms used by the body to control repair and regeneration processes. Studies in preclinical models of stroke have shown that activation of the Hedgehog pathway promotes neuroprotection. Neuroprotection is the prevention of the progressive death of cells in the brain caused by disease or injury. In addition, it has also been reported that activation of the Hedgehog pathway results in an increased proliferation of brain stem cells, which potentially would result in replacement of some of the dead cells.

Dr. Lee Rubin, Curis' Chief Scientific Officer, said, "The observation that activators of the Hedgehog pathway might have a unique combination of activities - protection and regeneration - suggests that they may represent an important new therapeutic approach to the treatment of neurological disease and injury."

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.