EXHIBIT 99.1
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ARIAD Announces Issuance of Key Patent Covering Its mTOR Inhibitors and
Treatment Methods in Cancer and Restenosis
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2006--ARIAD
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARIA) today announced issuance of a
U.S. patent covering its novel mTOR inhibitors, including its lead
cancer product candidate - AP23573 - and uses of these compounds to
treat various cancers and to prevent reblockage at sites of vascular
injury following stent-assisted angioplasty. U.S. Patent No. 7,091,213
provides coverage through the year 2023.
Based on positive Phase 2 efficacy data announced earlier this
year at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting,
AP23573 is set to enter a global Phase 3 clinical trial in patients
with advanced sarcomas.
This new patent covers AP23573 itself and a family of
small-molecule compounds structurally related to AP23573, as well as
important medical uses of these compounds, such as treatment of
various cancers including, for example, soft-tissue and bone sarcomas;
prostate, breast, pancreatic, brain, lung and colon cancers; and
lymphomas and leukemias. Related patent applications are pending in
the U.S. and major markets outside the U.S.
"This newly issued patent further strengthens our valuable
intellectual property portfolio and highlights the novelty of our
internally discovered mTOR inhibitor," said Harvey J. Berger, M.D.,
chairman and chief executive officer of ARIAD. "Issuance of this
patent will support our partnering efforts for AP23573 for use in
cancer and drug-eluting stents."
About AP23573
ARIAD's lead product candidate, AP23573, is a novel small-molecule
inhibitor of the protein mTOR, a "master switch" in cancer cells.
Blocking mTOR creates a starvation-like effect in cancer cells by
interfering with cell growth, division, metabolism, and angiogenesis.
AP23573 is currently in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in patients with
solid tumors and hematologic cancers. AP23573 has been designated both
as a fast-track product and an orphan drug by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration and as an orphan drug by the European Medicines Agency
for the treatment of soft-tissue and bone sarcomas. In addition to its
program in oncology, ARIAD is collaborating with Medinol Ltd to
develop stents and other medical devices that deliver AP23573 to
prevent reblockage at sites of vascular injury following
stent-assisted angioplasty.
About ARIAD
ARIAD is engaged in the discovery and development of breakthrough
medicines to treat cancer by regulating cell signaling with small
molecules. The Company is developing a comprehensive approach to
patients with cancer that addresses the greatest medical need -
aggressive and advanced-stage cancers for which current treatments are
inadequate. Medinol Ltd. also is developing stents and other medical
devices that deliver ARIAD's lead cancer product candidate to prevent
reblockage at sites of vascular injury following stent-assisted
angioplasty. ARIAD has an exclusive license to pioneering technology
and patents related to certain NF-(kappa)B treatment methods, and the
discovery and development of drugs to regulate NF-(kappa)B
cell-signaling activity, which may be useful in treating certain
diseases. Additional information about ARIAD can be found on the web
at http://www.ariad.com.
Some of the matters discussed herein are "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are identified by the use of words
such as "may", "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
expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results, outcome of events, timing
and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not
limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding our ability to
accurately estimate the timing and actual R&D expenses and other costs
associated with the preclinical and clinical development and
manufacture of our product candidates, the adequacy of our capital
resources and the availability of additional funding, risks and
uncertainties regarding our ability to manufacture or have
manufactured our product candidates on a commercial scale, risks and
uncertainties regarding our ability to successfully recruit centers,
enroll patients and conduct clinical studies of product candidates,
risks and uncertainties that clinical trial results at any phase of
development may be adverse or may not be predictive of future results
or lead to regulatory approval of any of our or any partner's product
candidates, risks and uncertainties of third-party intellectual
property claims relating to our and any partner's product candidates,
and risks and uncertainties relating to regulatory oversight, the
timing, scope, cost and outcome of legal and patent office
proceedings, litigation, prosecution and re-examination proceedings
concerning our NF-(kappa)B patent portfolio, future capital needs,
key employees, dependence on collaborators and manufacturers, markets,
economic conditions, products, services, prices, reimbursement rates,
competition and other factors detailed in the Company's public filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including ARIAD's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. 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.
Investors
Edward Fitzgerald, 617-621-2345
or
Pure Communications
Media
Sheryl Seapy, 949-608-0841