HAYWARD, Calif., June 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kosan Biosciences Incorporated announced today that Robert G. Johnson, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Kosan's President and CEO, will present at the Sixth Annual Needham Biotechnology and Medical Technology Conference in New York at the New York Palace on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. EST. A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed through http://www.wsw.com/webcast/needham18/kosn/
Interested parties may also access a live webcast of the presentation by visiting the "Events Calendar" page under the "Investors/Press" tab on Kosan's website at http://www.kosan.com. A recorded replay of the presentation will be available for two weeks.
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 in combination with Velcade(R) (bortezomib) and HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer in combination with Herceptin(R) (trastuzumab). 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-1584 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 http://www.kosan.com.
Kosan Biosciences IncorporatedCONTACT: Jane M. Green, VP, Corporate Communications of Kosan Biosciences,+1-510-731-5335, mobile, +1-415-652-4819, green@kosan.com
