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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 425
FILED BY CURIS, INC.
PURSUANT TO RULE 425 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SUBJECT COMPANY: CURIS, INC.
Date of Report: August 1, 2000
CONTACTS
for Curis, Inc.: for Noonan / Russo Communications:
William B. Boni Anthony Russo
(617) 876-0086, ext. 462 (212) 696-4455, ext. 202
or
Renee Connolly
(212) 696-4455, ext. 227
CURIS BEGINS TRADING ON NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET
FOLLOWING MERGER OF THREE BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
Curis is Positioned as a Leader in Regenerative Medicine
CAMBRIDGE, MA, August 1, 2000 - Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS) today began trading
as a public company on the Nasdaq National Stock Market. The Company began
operations following a merger approved yesterday by the stockholders of Creative
Biomolecules, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: CBMI), Ontogeny, Inc. and Reprogenesis,
Inc. Curis is developing innovative therapies in regenerative medicine, an
emerging field with the potential to fundamentally change the way degenerative
disease, cancer and other disorders associated with loss of function are
treated.
"Curis is in a position to potentially become the premier regenerative medicine
company of the present and the future through the application of technologies
that restore normal function by either unlocking or activating the body's
capacity to repair and regenerate itself," said Doros Platika, M.D., president
and chief executive officer of Curis. "We believe the Nasdaq National Stock
Market is the premier 21st century forum for companies with technologies that
have the potential to revolutionize quality in all aspects of life.
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"The merger of three companies with distinct and complementary capabilities has
created a broad portfolio of products and technologies in what we believe will
be an independent, sustainable company with near-term products and product
revenue, regulatory review expertise and a flow of innovative R&D
opportunities," said Dr. Platika.
"From the business perspective, the formation of Curis recognizes certain
economic imperatives for the biopharmaceutical sector," said Dr. Platika.
"Companies that will thrive in this market sector offer both a critical mass of
products and technologies at various stages of development and a definable flow
of milestone events. These qualities serve to attract greater investor
interest, diversify risks and realize operational and financial efficiencies."
The therapeutic products of regenerative medicine under development by Curis are
designed to recreate the conditions that support the growth of cells and tissue
and thereby to harness the body's inherent ability to repair damage caused by
disease, trauma or age. They are based on a knowledge of the molecules, cells,
proteins and biological processes that are critical in the original formation
and normal function of organs and tissues.
The Curis product pipeline and technology portfolio includes:
. a lead product under regulatory review for bone repair in the United States,
Europe and Australia;
. a number of products in clinical development to treat additional bone
reconstruction indications and a pediatric urologic disorder;
. numerous early clinical and late-stage pre-clinical products aimed at
treating indications that include basal cell carcinoma, peripheral
neuropathy, inhibition of cardiovascular restonosis, and bladder
augmentation; and
. a drug discovery platform that combines functional genomics and developmental
biology across multiple medical indications.
Curis, Inc. is developing products based on technologies in the emerging field
of regenerative medicine. The Company is combining insights gained through the
study of developmental biology with high-throughput screening capabilities,
proteins, cells and biocompatible materials to facilitate the development of new
regenerative medicine therapies. For more information, please visit the Curis
web site at http://www.curis.com.
The statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-
looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, without
limitation, risks associated with the inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical
research, product development, regulatory approval and commercialization, the
impact of competitive products, patents, patent litigation, product liability,
third party reimbursement, and other risks and uncertainties associated with the
biotechnology industry and mergers generally. For additional factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to the risk factors
section of the Curis joint proxy statement/prospectus filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2000.
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Investors and security holders are advised to read the joint proxy
statement/prospectus regarding the business combination transaction referenced
in the foregoing information, because it will contain important information.
Such joint proxy statement/prospectus was filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by Curis, Inc. on June 19, 2000. Investors and security holders may
obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents
filed by Curis, Inc. at the Commission's web site at www.sec.gov. The joint
proxy statement/prospectus and such other documents may also be obtained
directly from Curis, Inc.
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