Release Details

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA) today announced that, under its collaboration agreement with Merck & Co., Inc., a preclinical milestone was achieved with one of its novel Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 9 agonists used as an adjuvant in cancer vaccines. As a result, Idera is eligible to receive a milestone payment from Merck.

Under the terms of the agreement, Idera and Merck are collaborating to research, develop and commercialize Idera's TLR7, 8 and 9 agonists by incorporating them in therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines being developed by Merck for oncology, infectious diseases and Alzheimer's disease. Recently, scientists from Merck made a presentation entitled "TLR9 agonists enhance the efficacy of cancer vaccines", at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

About Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Idera Pharmaceuticals develops drug candidates to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. Our proprietary drug candidates are designed to modulate specific Toll-like Receptors, which are a family of immune system receptors that direct immune system responses. Our pioneering DNA and RNA chemistry expertise enables us to create drug candidates for internal development and generates opportunities for multiple collaborative alliances. For more information, visit www.iderapharma.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "estimates," "intends," "should," "could," "will," "may," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Idera's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including whether products based on Idera's technology will advance into or 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; whether the Company's collaboration with Merck &) Co. will be successful; whether the patents and patent applications owned or licensed by the Company will protect the Company's technology and prevent others from infringing it; whether the Company's cash resources will be sufficient to fund the Company's operations; and such other important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Idera's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2008, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. Idera disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kelly Luethje, 617-679-5519
kluethje@iderapharma.com
or
MacDougall Biomedical Communications
Chris Erdman, 781-235-3060
cerdman@macbiocom.com