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CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct 29, 2001 (BW HealthWire) -- ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ARIA) today announced, for the first time, the discovery of a series of
highly potent anti-tumor compounds that selectively inhibit oncogenic protein
tyrosine kinases over-expressed and/or hyperactive in common cancers.
The protein tyrosine kinases, c-Src, c-Abl, and Her2/neu, have been implicated
convincingly in human cancer and are well validated cell signaling targets for
treating cancer. They are known to play important roles in regulating tumor
growth and proliferation, apoptosis (cell death), angiogenesis (blood supply),
and metastasis (spread to distant sites). ARIAD scientists used structure-based
drug design and chemoinformatics to develop highly potent and selective
small-molecule inhibitors of these oncogenic protein tyrosine kinases. ARIAD's
proprietary compounds were shown to block the growth of breast, prostate, colon,
lung, bone and kidney tumors and leukemia.
The data are being presented by Marie Rose van Schravendijk, Ph.D. of ARIAD at
the International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics
jointly sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research, the National
Cancer Institute, and the European Organization for Research to Treat Cancer.
The conference begins today in Miami Beach, Florida. The abstract of her
presentation (no. 586) is available on the web at www.aacr.org.
"The discoveries being reported today clearly demonstrate the strength of our
drug discovery program," said Harvey J. Berger, M.D., chairman and chief
executive officer of ARIAD. "Development of these novel inhibitors of oncogenic
cell signaling complements our portfolio of four lead oncology and hematology
product candidates."
ARIAD is engaged in the discovery and development of breakthrough medicines that
regulate cell signaling with small molecules. The Company's lead product
candidates - treatments for bone metastases and bone pain, osteoporosis, cancer,
anemia and graft-vs-host disease following T cell immunotherapy - all were
developed through the integration of genomics, proteomics and structure-based
drug design. ARIAD's RegTech cell-signaling regulation technologies are being
used by almost 500 academic investigators providing a robust source of potential
new technologies, drug targets and product candidates that the Company may
develop. ARIAD also has an exclusive license to pioneering technology related to
the discovery and development of drugs that modulate the cellular protein,
NF-(kappa)B, and its associated pathways, which regulate the transcription of
key genes involved in many major diseases. Additional information about ARIAD
can be found on the web at www.ariad.com.
Some of the matters discussed herein are forward-looking statements. Such
statements are identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "estimate,"
"expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of
similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or
financial performance. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that
may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those
referred to or implied in such statements. These risks include, but are not
limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the Company's preclinical studies,
the Company's ability to conduct clinical trials of its product candidates and
the results of such trials, as well as risks and uncertainties relating to
economic conditions, markets, products, competition, intellectual property,
services and prices, key employees, future capital needs, dependence on the
Company's collaborators and other factors. These risks are identified in ARIAD's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained in this
document is believed to be current as of the date of original issue. The Company
does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date
of this document to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in
the Company's expectations, except as required by law.
CONTACT: ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tom Pearson
Corporate Communications
(610) 407-9260
or
Kathy Lawton
(617) 494-0400
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