Idera Pharmaceuticals Announces Issuance of Patents Claiming Novel Toll-like Receptor-Targeted Immune Modulatory Oligonucleotides and Their Use

Business Wire, April 23, 2009

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA) today announced the issuance of patents covering its novel immune modulatory oligonucleotides (IMO), chemical modifications of IMOs, compositions containing IMOs with other therapeutic agents, and the use of IMOs to therapeutically treat a broad range of diseases.

The issued patents include:

• US 7,517,862, entitled “Modulation of Immunostimulatory Properties of Oligonucleotide-based Compounds by Optimal Presentation of 5’ Ends”
• US 7,498,426, entitled “Immunostimulatory Oligonucleotide Multimers”
• US 7,498,425, entitled “Immunostimulatory Oligonucleotide Multimers”
• US 7,470,674, entitled “Immunostimulatory Properties of Oligonucleotide-based Compounds Comprising Modified Immunostimulatory Dinucleotides”
• IN 228424, entitled “Synergistic Stimulation of the Immune System Using Immunostimulatory Oligonucleotides and/or Immunomer Compositions in Conjunction with Cytokines and/or Chemotherapeutic Agents or Radiation Therapy”
• KR 10-0875003, entitled “Modulation of Oligonucleotide CpG-mediated Immune Stimulation by Positional Modification of Nucleosides”

“We continue to strengthen Idera’s patent portfolio covering compounds targeted to Toll-like Receptors. The claims of these issued patents cover the therapeutic use of our immune stimulatory oligonucleotide compounds and specific compositions that may be useful in selected disease areas,” commented Steven Ritter, Ph.D., J.D., Vice President of Intellectual Property and Contracts. “This patent protection is a fundamental component of our strategy of using a chemistry-based approach to discover and develop TLR-targeted compounds for the treatment of a variety of diseases.”

Presently, the Company holds over 260 issued patents and pending patent applications world-wide, which cover novel agonists and antagonists of TLR7, 8 and 9.

About Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Idera Pharmaceuticals develops drug candidates to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. Our proprietary drug candidates are designed to modulate specific Toll-like Receptors, which are a family of immune system receptors that direct immune system responses. Our pioneering DNA and RNA chemistry expertise enables us to create drug candidates for internal development and generates opportunities for multiple collaborative alliances. For more information, visit www.iderapharma.com.

Idera Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "estimates," "intends," "should," "could," "will," "may," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including whether products based on the Company’s technology will advance into or through the clinical trial process on a timely basis or at all and receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether, if the Company's products receive approval, they will be successfully distributed and marketed; whether the Company’s collaborators will support the development and commercialization of products under their collaborations with the Company; whether the patents and patent applications owned or licensed by the Company will protect the Company’s technology and prevent others from infringing it; whether the Company’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund the Company's operations; and such other important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2009, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.