IDP Idera Pharmaceuticals

Idera Pharmaceuticals (AMEX: IDP) today announced the formation of its Oncology Clinical Advisory Board (OCAB). Idera's OCAB is comprised of an internationally prominent group of physicians and scientists with expertise in all aspects of oncology drug development and clinical practice. The OCAB has been established to advise the company on its Toll-like Receptor (TLR) targeted development programs in oncology, including its lead drug candidate, IMO-2055, which is currently in clinical evaluation for renal cell carcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer. "We are very pleased that Idera has attracted this distinguished group of oncology investigators to advise us on ways to fully exploit the potential of Idera's lead oncology candidate, IMO-2055. The formation of the OCAB, and the expertise it brings us, is an important step, as we consider expanding our clinical programs in cancer treatment," commented Robert W. Karr, M.D., President of Idera. "Activation of the immune system through Toll-like receptors has exciting potential for the treatment of patients with cancer. I am, therefore, pleased to be working with this experienced group of oncology investigators to assist Idera on the clinical development of its oncology drug candidate," commented Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., FACP, Senior Investigator and Director, Translational Drug Development Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona Department of Medicine, Arizona Health Sciences Center and Chairman of Idera's Oncology Clinical Advisory Board. The members of Idera's Oncology Clinical Advisory Board are: George D. Demetri, M.D. Dr. Demetri is Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. He is also Director, Center for Sarcoma and Bone Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Director, Ludwig Center, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and Executive Director, Clinical and Translational Research, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Robert A. Figlin, M.D., FACP Dr. Figlin is the Henry Alvin and Carrie L. Meinhardt Chair in Urologic Oncology and Professor of Medicine and Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Thomas R. Fleming, Ph.D. Dr. Fleming is Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington. David H. Johnson, M.D. Dr. Johnson is the Cornelius A. Craig Professor of Medical and Surgical Oncology, Director, Division of Hematology/Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Deputy Director, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Paul I. Nadler, M.D., FACP Dr. Nadler is Managing General Partner of Nadler Pharma Associates, advisor to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on key aspects of drug development. Mace L. Rothenberg, M.D., Dr. Mace Rothenberg is a Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Director of Phase I Drug Development in the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. George W. Sledge, Jr., M.D. Dr. Sledge is Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, The Ballve-Lantero Professor of Oncology. Giampaolo Tortora, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Tortora is Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Universita di Napoli Federico II and is Director of the Clinical Unit of Molecular and Integrated Cancer Therapy. Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., FACP, Chairman of the Idera Oncology Clinical Advisory Board Dr. Von Hoff is Senior Investigator and Director, Translational Drug Development Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Arizona Department of Medicine, Arizona Health Sciences Center. Louis M. Weiner, M.D. Dr. Weiner is the Chairman of the Department of Medical Oncology and Vice President, Translational Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center About IMO-2055, Idera's Lead Oncology Candidate IMO-2055 is Idera's lead Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist for the treatment of cancer and is based on Idera's proprietary Immune Modulatory Oligonucleotide (IMO(TM)) technology. IMO-2055 is currently in a Phase 2 trial in renal cell carcinoma and a Phase 1/2 trial in non-small cell lung cancer. The Company has previously conducted a Phase 1 monotherapy trial of IMO-2055 in solid tumor oncology patients. About Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Idera Pharmaceuticals is a drug discovery and development company with a pipeline of drug candidates to treat cancer, and infectious, respiratory, and autoimmune diseases. Idera's proprietary drug candidates are designed to modulate TLRs, the body's first line of immune defense. Idera's pioneering DNA chemistry expertise enables it to identify drug candidates for internal development and creates opportunities for multiple collaborative alliances. Idera's most advanced clinical candidate, IMO-2055, is an agonist of TLR9 and is currently in a Phase 2 trial in oncology and in a Phase 1/2 chemotherapy combination trial in oncology. Idera has selected a second TLR9 agonist, IMO-2125, as a lead candidate for treating infectious diseases. Idera also is collaborating with Novartis for the discovery, optimization, development, and commercialization of additional TLR9 agonist candidates for asthma and allergy. For more information, visit www.iderapharma.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that 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 Idera's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including whether products based on Idera'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 results of preclinical studies will be indicative of results that may be obtained in clinical trials; whether the patents and patent applications owned or licensed by Idera will protect the Company's technology and prevent others from infringing it; whether Idera's cash resources will be sufficient to fund product development and clinical trials; and such other important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Idera's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 12, 2006, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. Idera disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.