EPIX Pharmaceuticals to Present Phase 2a Data at American Thoracic Society Meeting

May 15, 2008 4:30 PM EDT

LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPIX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform, today announced that Michael G. Kauffman, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer of EPIX, is scheduled to present an oral presentation entitled "Selective Serotonin-2B Receptor Antagonist PRX-08066 Improves Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease" at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society in Toronto on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. ET.

EPIX previously announced the results of a Phase 2a clinical trial of PRX-08066 in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Dr. Kauffman's presentation will focus on previously reported data. A copy of Dr. Kauffman's presentation will be available on the EPIX website, www.epixpharma.com, in the investor relations section following his presentation at the conference.

PRX-08066 represents a novel mechanism for selectively dilating pulmonary arteries without affecting the systemic circulation. The expression of the 5HT2B receptor is increased in animal models and in patients with PH. Blocking 5HT2B in patients with PH associated with COPD could reduce or prevent the acute rise in pulmonary pressures which occurs when patients increase their activity. This means that the heart would do less work for a given level of activity, allowing for improvements in exercise tolerance. Moreover, by blocking the serotonin-dependent growth of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells, which further increases pulmonary pressures and increases workload demand on the heart, PRX-08066 could potentially slow the progression of disease. Over time, this could translate into improved exercise tolerance and slowing of the vascular remodeling that leads to right-sided heart failure. These kinds of effects have been seen with PRX-08066 in pre-clinical studies of hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

About PRX-08066

Discovered and designed using EPIX's proprietary G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) modeling and optimization technology, EPIX is developing PRX-08066 to provide both symptomatic improvement of PH, through selective dilation of diseased pulmonary blood vessels, and to also slow disease progression by inhibiting the serotonin-mediated thickening of the pulmonary artery vessels. EPIX is currently developing what it believes to be a first in class selective 5-HT2B antagonist for PH.

In a Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 71 patients, 62 of which were evaluable, treatment with PRX-08066 resulted in statistically significant (p=0.043) reductions in median systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) compared with placebo treatment. Responder (defined as greater than or equal to a 4mmHg drop in SPAP) rates were 45% on 400 mg once-daily vs. 14% on placebo. The company has also completed several Phase 1 clinical trials with PRX-08066 in healthy volunteers including a Phase 1b trial that assessed the effects of PRX-08066 on pulmonary artery pressure in athletes whose pulmonary pressures were increased by exposure to a reduced oxygen level (hypoxia). The results of this Phase 1b trial indicated that 200 mg of PRX-08066 given orally twice daily significantly reduced the increase in pulmonary artery blood pressure during hypoxic exercise (by 3.6mmHg compared with placebo), without affecting systemic blood pressure. The half life of PRX-08066 is approximately 20 hours and the agent has shown good oral absorption. PRX-08066 was well-tolerated when given alone and when combined with standard medications for COPD patients as all of the patients in the Phase 2a trial were on several concomitant medications. One subject in the 400 mg dose group who continued into the six-week open-label extension experienced a modest increase in liver enzyme levels at the end of the extension that was believed to be drug-related. These values returned to normal within two weeks and the subject remained asymptomatic.

About EPIX

EPIX Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform. The company has a pipeline of internally-discovered drug candidates currently in clinical development to treat diseases of the central nervous system and lung conditions. EPIX also has collaborations with leading organizations, including GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics and Bayer Schering Pharma. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.epixpharma.com.

This news release contains express or implied forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on current expectations of management. These statements relate to, among other things, our expectations regarding the timing and content of corporate presentations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional information regarding these and other risks that we face, see the disclosure contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Source: EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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