Release Details

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDRA) today announced that it will present preclinical data from studies on its autoimmune disease program at the 4th Annual Meeting of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society being held at the Harvard Medical School Conference Center in Boston, October 15-18, 2008. The Company's presentations describe studies of novel compounds targeted to Toll-like Receptors (TLRs), including the evaluation of TLR antagonist compounds in preclinical models of autoimmune diseases.

    The Company's presentations include:

    --  "Chemistry of Immunomodulatory Oligonucleotides" by Sudhir
        Agrawal, D.Phil., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific
        Officer. This presentation will be given during Session IX:
        Preclinical Models and Clinical Programs, Part II:
        Immunostimulation, being held on Saturday, October 18, 2008,
        5:00 - 5:30pm.

    --  "A Synthetic DNA-Based Antagonist of TLR7 and 9 Protects Mice
        Against TNBS-Induced Colitis" by Daqing Wang, Ph.D., et al.
        (Friday, October 17)

    --  "Evaluation of a DNA-Based Toll-Like Receptor Antagonist for
        the Treatment of Collagen-Induced Arthritis in DBA/1 Mice" by
        Fu-Gang Zhu, Ph.D., et al. (Friday, October 17)

    --  "DNA-Based Antagonists of Toll-Like Receptors: Insights Into
        the Mechanism of Action" by Lakshmi Bhagat, Ph.D., et al.
        (Friday, October 17)

"We continue to advance evaluation of our drug candidates targeted to TLRs, and among our current presentations will be data on the mechanism of action of our TLR antagonists and results from the evaluation of antagonists in preclinical models of colitis and of treatment of collagen-induced arthritis," said Dr. Agrawal. "We have selected IMO-3100 as a lead antagonist candidate for preclinical development in autoimmune diseases."

In addition to the presentations on TLR antagonists, the Company will present preclinical data on novel compounds targeting TLR8 and TLR9. The presentations include:

    --  "Synthetic Agonists of Toll-Like Receptor 8 Containing
        2'-Deoxy-2'-Fluororibonucleotides" by Tao Lan, Ph.D., et al.
        (Thursday, October 16)

    --  "Design of Synthetic Agonists of Toll-Like Receptor 9" by
        Mallikarjuna Putta, Ph.D., et al. (Thursday, October 16)

    --  "Antitumor Activity of RNA-Based Agonists of TLR7 and TLR8 in
        Combination with Erlotinib and Cetuximab in Non-Small Cell
        Lung Cancer Xenografts in Mice" by Daqing Wang, Ph.D., et al.
        (Friday, October 17)

    About Idera's TLR Antagonists

Idera's TLR antagonists are based on synthetic DNA and have been designed through extensive structure-activity relationship studies. These antagonists have been shown in preclinical assays to suppress immune responses mediated through TLR7 and TLR9. Selected antagonist candidates have been studied in a broad range of preclinical models of diseases including lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lung inflammation. Idera selected IMO-3100, a novel TLR antagonist, as a lead drug candidate for preclinical development in autoimmune diseases.

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.

Idera 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 the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including whether results obtained in early clinical studies or in preclinical studies such as the studies referred to above will be indicative of results obtained in future clinical trials or warrant additional trials or further development; whether products based on the Company'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 collaborators will support the development and commercialization of products under their collaborations with the Company; 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 its operations; and such other important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 1, 2008, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Source: Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.