Topigen Pharmaceuticals Inc. Outlines Strategy For Respiratory Disease Product Pipeline

MONTREAL, Canada and RANDOLPH, N.J., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- TOPIGEN Pharmaceuticals Inc., an emerging biopharmaceutical company specializing in respiratory disorders, today outlined its respiratory disease product pipeline strategy. This announcement follows the acquisition of North American rights, with an option for worldwide rights, to TPI 1020 (formerly referred to as NCX- 1020), a Phase IIa compound for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other respiratory disorders from NicOx, SA on October 27, 2005.

COPD represents the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and is projected to become the third-leading cause of death by 2020. Current treatments improve the quality of life and provide symptomatic relief in some patients. There are no drugs available that can slow the progressive decline in lung function which is a characteristic of the disease.

Dr. Paul Wotton, President and CEO of TOPIGEN commented, “We are building a biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of novel respiratory disease products that can be optimized using our proprietary discovery capabilities. The addition of TPI 1020 to our existing portfolio of both clinical and pre- clinical candidates brings TOPIGEN another Phase II compound. In 2006 we expect to initiate a 14-day Phase IIa trial of TPI 1020 in man.”

TPI 1020 and PD3 for COPD

TPI 1020 is a novel, proprietary nitric oxide-donating derivative of budesonide, a widely prescribed inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of respiratory diseases. NicOx conducted certain clinical and preclinical studies of TPI 1020, including some models of COPD (Pulmonary Pharmacology and Therapeutics 17 (2004) 219-232). These studies, together with studies conducted in TOPIGEN’s own laboratories, indicate that TPI 1020 is effective in protecting against bronchoconstriction and in inhibiting the infiltration and subsequent activation of neutrophils in the lungs (neutrophils are immune cells implicated in COPD).

NicOx completed a Phase 1 study of TPI 1020 and a randomized, double- blinded, placebo controlled Phase IIa study in asthmatic subjects. These results indicated that the drug was well tolerated, with a trend in activity and promising pharmacokinetic profile in asthma patients.

TOPIGEN’s other COPD program, PD3, is an aerosolized phosphodiesterase inhibitor being developed to target multiple gene-expression pathways linked to the progressive airway remodeling associated with COPD. PD3 is expected to begin human trials in the first half of 2007 and targets immune and lung structural cells with phosphodiesterase specific oligonucleotide molecules to reduce the pro-inflammatory response.

ASM8 for Asthma

ASM8 is a novel, multi-targeted, first-in-class drug that combines two oligonucleotides into a single product delivered directly to the lungs for knock-down of cell receptors involved in the development of chronic asthma. TOPIGEN’s inhaled formulation provides delivery of ASM8 directly to the lungs for knock-down of multiple cell receptors involved in the development of chronic asthma. Patients are currently being enrolled in a Phase II clinical trial for ASM8, TOPIGEN’s RNA-targeting therapeutic for asthma (see press release dated October 18, 2005).

Dr. Paul Wotton, President and Chief Executive Officer will deliver a presentation to investors at the Rodman & Renshaw Techvest - 7th Annual Healthcare Conference on November 9, 2005 at 8:20 AM in the Adams Room at the Palace Hotel in NYC. For more information on this conference, please visit: http://www.rodmanandrenshaw.com/rodman.asp?link=Conferences7/ConferenceMain&bg color=wht

About TOPIGEN

TOPIGEN is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on building a respiratory disease company from its proprietary and in-licensed products. The Company has a unique expertise in developing new classes of medicines for respiratory disorders using its proprietary RNA-targeting technology. The Company’s portfolio of products includes clinical candidates in asthma and COPD as well as pre-clinical candidates in COPD and allergic rhinitis. For more detailed information on TOPIGEN please visit http://www.topigen.com.

TOPIGEN

CONTACT: Corporate Contact: G. John Mohr of TOPIGEN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,+1-973-809-5582, john.mohr@topigen.com; or Media Contact: Bryan P. Murphyof LaVoie Group, +1-781-596-0200, X105, bmurphy@lavoiegroup.com