CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and EXTON, Pa., Sept. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDRA), a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing toll-like receptor and RNA therapeutics for patients with cancer and rare
diseases, today is reporting new pre-clinical data from its ongoing intratumoral IMO-2125 development program at the Third Annual
CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference being held in Frankfurt, Germany.
In the poster presentation entitled, “Intratumoral IMO-2125 Treatment in Combination with Anti-CTLA4 mAB Induces Durable
Anti-Tumor Reponses Associated with Tumor-Specific Memory in Preclinical Studies,” presented by Daqing Wang, Ph.D., Principal
Scientist & Group Leader, Idera Pharmaceuticals, demonstrated that intratumoral injections of IMO-2125 enhance anti-tumor responses
in combination with CTLA4 blockade. Further this study demonstrated the combination of IMO-2125 and anti-CTLA4 achieves
prolonged, durable anti-tumor effect.
In this study, mice whose tumors completely regressed survived more than one year after the combination treatment was
administered. These animals maintained anti-tumor responses upon tumor re-challenge indicative of memory T-cell induction by
the combination of IMO-2125 and anti-CTLA4. Additionally, IMO-2125 delivered intratumorally has been shown to mediate tumor
microenvironment changes including infiltration of T-cells and immune checkpoint gene up-regulation.
“These findings further support our current clinical trials which are designed to demonstrate that the combination of
intratumoral IMO-2125 and Ipilimumab provides an opportunity to break the resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy and lead to durable
effect in this patient population, one that clearly represents a significant unmet need in immuno-oncology,” stated Joanna Horobin,
C.B., Ch.B., Idera’s Chief Medical Officer. “We look forward to presenting further data from our ongoing clinical trial this
weekend at ESMO as well as additional translational data from our trials at a future medical conference later this year.”
A copy of the poster presentation is currently available on Idera’s corporate website at http://www.iderapharma.com/our-approach/key-publications/.
Investor Event and Webcast
Idera will host a conference call and live webcast on Monday, September 11 at 9:00 A.M. EDT to review the data being presented here
as well as at ESMO along with discussion of next steps for the IMO-2125 development program. To participate in the conference
call, please dial (844) 882-7837 (domestic) and (574) 990-9824 (international). The webcast can be accessed live or in
archived form in the “Investor’s” section of the company’s website at www.iderapharma.com. The company plans to post a slide presentation on Monday, September
11, 2017 to the Idera corporate website in the “Investors” section which will be referenced during the conference call.
About IMO-2125
IMO-2125 is a toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 agonist that received orphan drug designation from the FDA in 2017 for the treatment of
melanoma Stages IIb to IV. It signals the immune system to create and activate cancer-fighting cells (T-cells) to target solid
tumors in refractory melanoma patients. Currently approved immuno-oncology treatments for patients with metastatic melanoma,
specifically check-point inhibitors, work for some but not all, as many patients’ immune response is missing or weak and thus they
do not benefit from the checkpoint therapy making them so-called “refractory”. The combination of ipilimumab and IMO-2125 appears
to activate an immune response in these patients who have exhausted all options. Intratumoral injections with IMO-2125 is designed
to selectively enable the T-cells to recognize and attack cancers that remained elusive and unrecognized by the immune system
exposed to checkpoint inhibitors alone, while limiting toxicity or impact on healthy cells in the body.
About Metastatic Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in a type of skin cell called melanocytes. As is the case in many forms of cancer,
melanoma becomes more difficult to treat once the disease has spread beyond the skin to other parts of the body such as by through
the lymphatic system (metastatic disease). Because melanoma occurs in younger individuals, the years of life lost to melanoma are
also disproportionately high when compared with other cancers. Although melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer, it comprises
over 75% of skin cancer deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that there were approximately 76,000 new invasive
melanoma cases and 10,000 deaths from the disease in the USA in 2016. Additionally, according to the World Health
Organization, about 132,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed around the world every year.
About Idera Pharmaceuticals
Harnessing the approach of the earliest researchers in immunotherapy and the company’s vast experience in developing proprietary
immunology platforms, Idera’s lead development program is focused on priming the immune system to play a more powerful role in
fighting cancer, ultimately increasing the number of people who can benefit from immunotherapy. Idera continues to invest in
research and development, and is committed to working with investigators and partners who share the common goal of addressing the
unmet needs of patients suffering from rare, life-threatening diseases. To learn more about Idera, visit www.iderapharma.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact,
included or incorporated in this press release, including statements regarding the Company's strategy, future operations,
collaborations, intellectual property, cash resources, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, and
objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "expects,"
"intends," "may," "could," "should," "potential," "likely," "projects," "continue," "will," and "would" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Idera
cannot guarantee that it will actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements
and you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that
could cause Idera's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by its forward-looking statements. Factors
that may cause such a difference include: whether interim results from a clinical trial, such as preliminary results reported in
this release, will be predictive of the final results of the trial, whether results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical
trials will be indicative of the results that will be generated in future clinical trials, including in clinical trials in
different disease indications; whether products based on Idera's IMO-2125 will successfully advance 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; and
such other important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on form 10K for the
period ended December 31, 2016 and in the Company’s quarterly report on form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2017. Although
Idera may elect to do so at some point in the future, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements and it disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
Investor and Media Contact Robert Doody Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Office: 617-679-5515 Mobile: 484‐639‐7235 rdoody@iderapharma.com Theresa Dolge Chief Media Relations Officer Tonic Life Communications Office: 215-928-2748 Theresa.dolge@toniclc.com
