HAYWARD, Calif., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kosan Biosciences Incorporated announced today that Robert G. Johnson, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Kosan's President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the CIBC World Markets 17th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York at the Waldorf- Astoria Hotel on Monday, November 6, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed through http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/cibcwm/healthcare06/47107108.cfm .
Gary S. Titus, Kosan's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Rodman & Renshaw 8th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York at the Palace Hotel on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 at 9:55 a.m. Eastern Time. A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed through http://www.wsw.com/webcast/rrshq10/kosn .
In addition, Dr. Johnson will present at the Cowen and Company 7th Annual Global Healthcare Conference at the Landmark London Hotel, London on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 10:40 a.m. local time. The presentation can be accessed through http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/conflobby.zhtml?ticker=KOSN&item_id=1399659
Interested parties may also access a live webcast of these presentations by visiting the "Events Calendar" page under the "Investors/Press" tab on Kosan's website at http://www.kosan.com .
About Kosan
Kosan Biosciences is a biotechnology company advancing two new classes of anticancer agents through clinical development -- Hsp90 (heat shock protein 90) inhibitors and epothilones. Kosan is leveraging its proprietary discovery platform to generate a pipeline of potentially significant product candidates, primarily in the area of oncology.
Hsp90 inhibitors have a novel mechanism of action targeting multiple pathways involved in cancer cell growth and survival. Kosan's proprietary formulation of tanespimycin (KOS-953) is currently in Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, primarily for multiple myeloma and HER2-positive breast cancer. In addition, intravenous and oral formulations of Kosan's second-generation Hsp90 inhibitor, alvespimycin (KOS-1022), are being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials.
Epothilones inhibit cell division with a mechanism of action similar to taxanes, one of the most successful classes of anti-tumor agents. KOS-862 is currently being studied in a Phase 2 single-agent clinical trial in patients with metastatic breast cancer, as well as a Phase 2 combination trial with Herceptin(R). KOS-1584, a second candidate designed to improve pharmacokinetics, is in Phase 1 clinical trials in patients with solid tumors. Kosan's epothilone program is partnered with Roche through a global development and commercialization agreement.
For additional information on Kosan Biosciences, please visit the company's website at www.kosan.com .
Kosan Biosciences IncorporatedCONTACT: Gary S. Titus, Chief Financial Officer, +1-510-731-5373, ortitus@kosan.com; or Jane Green, +1-510-731-5335, or mobile,+1-415-652-4819, or green@kosan.com, both of Kosan Biosciences
Web site: http://www.kosan.com//
