RNAi therapeutics company atugen receives Frost & Sullivan Award

Berlin , Germany ( 3 November 2004 ) – atugen AG has received the 2004 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award in the field of RNAi technology for therapeutic applications. The Award is made in recognition of atugen as a technology leader for functional 'gene silencing' and of the company's development of novel siRNA molecules for a wide range of therapeutic applications. The citation also notes that apart from developing proprietary siRNA, atugen is also developing an efficient delivery mode for in vivo tissue targeting, which is itself a technological challenge. And further on the merit of atugen’s inventions: “Thus two challenges – stability and delivery of siRNA - have been addressed in a single step.”

In making the award, Frost & Sullivan commented that 'atugen's proprietary siRNA molecules are more stable than conventional ones since they have been chemically modified for greater stability. Also, atugen’s siRNA molecules themselves are made of naturally occurring building blocks, which helps prevent toxic build-up of molecules as siRNA molecules are eventually metabolized. Hence molecular stability and safety are the key features of atugen's approach.’

Formed in 1998, atugen has worked for more than 5 years with its customers and collaborators from the biopharmaceutical industry to apply gene silencing technology to identify and validate molecular disease targets. Now the company has entered into partnerships to develop RNAi therapeutics. One such partnership, with Sanofi-Aventis, was announced in September 2004.

On receiving the Award, Jeremy Curnock Cook, chairman of atugen’s Board of Directors, said, “We are delighted that Frost & Sullivan has recognised the enormous strides that the scientific team at atugen has made, in just a few years, in advancing its siRNA therapeutics programme closer to the point where these novel compounds can be put to the test in the clinical trials process. Our belief is that because of their close similarity to a patient's own RNA, atugen’s siRNA drugs will be not only effective but also very safe medicines.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

1. atugen AG

atugen AG, (www.atugen.com) the RNAi Therapeutics Company, is a biopharmaceutical company based in Berlin , Germany currently employing about 40 individuals. atugen’s therapeutic siRNA programs currently focus on in vivo applications in oncology and liver diseases, exploiting its oligonucleotide delivery technologies and chemically-stabilized, proprietary siRNA structures (atuRNAi). Major milestones this year include the first proof-of-concept that atugen’s proprietary atuRNAi molecules work in vivo, namely in a mouse diabetes model, and successful atuRNAi applications in several animal models for cancer. atugen also operates a profitable contract research business which provides in vitro and in vivo target validation as well as other research services. Over the years, atugen has had collaborative research programs with more than two dozen biopharmaceutical companies.

atugen AG - Winner of the Frost & Sullivan 2004 Technology Innovation Award in the field of RNAi technology for therapeutic applications.

Contact:

Fiona Brown, Northbank Communications

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7886 8155

Email: f.brown@northbankcommunications.com

Dr Andre Lochter, Director Business Development

Tel: +49 30 9489 2804

Email: lochter@atugen.com

2. Frost & Sullivan

Founded in 1961, Frost & Sullivan is recognized as a global leader in growth consulting. Frost & Sullivan Awards are presented to companies that demonstrate best practices in their industry, commending the diligence, commitment, and innovative business strategies required to advance in the global marketplace. Frost & Sullivan rigorously analyzes specific criteria to determine award recipients in a broad spectrum of market industries and landscapes. For further information, visit www.frost.com.

Contact:

Stacie Jones
+1-210.247.2450
Stacie.jones@frost.com