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Dendreon to Present Promising Results from New Protease Activated Therapy -- PACT -- Program
Thursday September 11, 8:04 am ET

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2003--Dendreon Corporation (Nasdaq:DNDN - News) today announced it will present data on a lead compound from its new Protease Activated Therapy (PACT) therapeutic platform. In preclinical testing to date, the compound, CVS 10290, has demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor volume compared to conventional chemotherapy. The results will be presented by Edwin L. Madison, Ph.D., vice president of biological research at Dendreon, during the Biochemical Society's 57th Harden Conference: Proteinase Structure and Function taking place Sept. 9 to 13 in Oxford, UK.

Dendreon's PACT program focuses on exploiting, rather than blocking, the activity of proteases on the surface of tumor cells. The goal of this prodrug approach is to deliver a potent cytotoxic, or cell-killing drug directly to the tumor cells, thereby sparing healthy tissue.

Data to be presented demonstrate in preclinical in vivo models of prostate cancer that CVS 10290 produced an approximately 85 percent reduction in tumor growth compared to conventional chemotherapy (p=0.0008). In addition, CVS 10290 was shown to have a considerably better safety profile than conventional chemotherapy, with no morbidity related to toxicity, as compared to 30 percent morbidity for conventional chemotherapy, and reduced chemotherapy-associated side effects. Additional studies with CVS 10290 demonstrated similar results in breast cancer models.

PACT involves the design of synthetic molecules composed of a sequence of amino acids that are selectively recognized by a targeted, cancer-associated serine protease. This peptide is chemically attached to a known cancer chemotherapeutic or cytotoxic drug, yielding a hybrid or conjugate molecule. This highly targeted approach is expected to reduce damage to normal, non-tumor cells because the sequence of attached amino acids delivers the cytotoxic agent directly to tumor cells.

"This study supports the role of this new and exciting class of drugs for cancer therapy that offers the potential for not only enhanced efficacy but reduced side effects as well," said Reiner Laus, M.D., vice president of research and development at Dendreon. "We look forward to advancing our first PACT compound into clinical development and expanding Dendreon's platform technologies in oncology."

Dendreon Corporation is a biotechnology company developing targeted therapies for cancer. The company's lead investigational product candidate, Provenge®, is a cancer immunotherapy undergoing a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for the potential treatment of androgen independent prostate cancer. In addition to its immunotherapies in clinical and preclinical development for a variety of cancers, Dendreon's product pipeline also includes monoclonal antibody, small molecule and prodrug product candidates. Dendreon has research and development alliances with Genentech, Inc., Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., Abgenix, Inc. and Dyax Corp. For more information about the company and its programs, visit www.dendreon.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, particularly those risks and uncertainties inherent in the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks that the safety and/or efficacy results of preclinical studies will not support further development, risks associated with development of early stage product candidates through preclinical and clinical research and development, risks associated with completing Dendreon's clinical trials, the risks that the safety and/or efficacy results of a clinical trial will not support an application for a biologics license, the risk that the FDA will not approve a product for which a biologics license has been applied, the uncertainty of Dendreon's future access to capital, risks relating to Dendreon's relatively limited operating history, the failure by Dendreon to secure and maintain relationships with collaborators, the dependence on the efforts of third parties, the risks that a patent will not be granted or that the claims will be restricted or challenged by a third party, and the dependence on intellectual property. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Dendreon's business, financial condition and results of operations, are contained in Dendreon's SEC reports, which are available at www.sec.gov