Hedgehog Pathway Implicated In Ameloblastoma

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."