Release Details

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA - News) today provided an update on its drug candidate pipeline targeted to Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) during its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

“We have three drug candidates in clinical evaluation for multiple indications, two of which are being advanced by our partners. We expect to file an IND application for a fourth drug candidate by the end of 2009,” said Sudhir Agrawal, D. Phil., President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer. “Over the next 18 months we expect to obtain data from ongoing clinical trials of each of these candidates to enable decisions on further development directions.”

IMO-2055 in Cancer Treatment (collaboration with Merck KGaA)

IMO-2055 is a TLR9 agonist

• Phase 2 Clinical Trial of IMO-2055 in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

The Company expects to report detailed data from the first part of a Phase 2 clinical trial of IMO-2055 monotherapy in patients with metastatic or recurrent clear cell RCC at a scientific meeting in the third quarter of 2009. Based on the final data analysis, the median progression-free survival for each of the four arms in the trial was 4.5 months, 4.3 months, 3.4 months, and 1.9 months. Preliminary data from the trial were announced October 1, 2008.

• Phase 1b Clinical Trial of IMO-2055 in Combination with Avastin® and Tarceva® in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

The Company expects to report preliminary data from the dose-escalation portion of the Phase 1b trial at a scientific meeting in the third quarter of 2009. In the trial, IMO-2055 is being administered with fixed standard dose regimens of Avastin and Tarceva. Patient recruitment is ongoing at a selected dose level of IMO-2055 to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of the combination.

• Phase 1b Clinical Trial of IMO-2055 in Combination with Erbitux® and Camptosar® in Colorectal Cancer

Patient recruitment is ongoing with dose-escalation through three dose levels of IMO-2055 administered with standard dose regimens of Erbitux and Camptosar to evaluate the safety of the combination.

IMO-2125 in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection

IMO-2125 is a TLR9 Agonist

• Phase 1 Clinical Trial with IMO-2125 Monotherapy in Chronic HCV Infection in Patients Non-responsive to Standard of Care Therapy

Patient enrollment in the third cohort has been completed. The Company expects to complete dosing in the fourth planned cohort and to announce interim data by the end of 2009.

• Phase 1 Clinical Trial with IMO-2125 in Combination with Ribavirin in Chronic HCV Infection in Treatment-naïve Patients

The Company is preparing to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial to assess the safety of IMO-2125 in combination with ribavirin in treatment-naïve patients with chronic HCV infection. The Company expects to commence this trial in the second half of 2009. The design of this trial is subject to review by regulatory authorities.

QAX935 (IMO-2134) in Asthma and Allergy (collaboration with Novartis)

QAX935 is a TLR9 Agonist

• Phase 1 Clinical Trial with QAX935

In September 2008, Novartis initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of QAX935. QAX935 is intended for the treatment of asthma and allergies.

IMO-3100 in Autoimmune Diseases

IMO-3100 is a dual antagonist of TLR7 and TLR9

• Submission of Investigational New Drug (IND) Application for IMO-3100

The Company is conducting IND-enabling preclinical development studies to support the evaluation of IMO-3100 in autoimmune diseases. The Company expects to submit an IND application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2009.

Research Programs

TLR7 and TLR8 Agonists

• The Company is studying its novel TLR7 and/or TLR8 agonists for potential applications in oncology and infectious diseases.

TLR7, 8 and 9 Agonists as Adjuvants in Vaccines (collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc.)

• Idera and Merck & Co. are collaborating under an agreement to research, develop and commercialize vaccine products containing Idera’s agonist compounds targeting TLRs 7, 8, and 9 in the fields of oncology, infectious diseases and Alzheimer’s disease.

TLR Antisense

• The Company has identified antisense candidates targeted to human TLRs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 and to the TLR-associated signaling protein MyD88. The Company is studying the potential application of TLR antisense in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

About Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Idera Pharmaceuticals develops drug candidates to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. Our proprietary drug candidates are designed to modulate specific Toll-like Receptors (TLRs), 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 our internal development programs and our partnered programs, and generates opportunities for additional 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 Idera's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including whether results obtained in preclinical studies will be indicative of results obtained in future clinical trials; 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 collaborations with Novartis, Merck & Co., and Merck KGaA 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 Idera'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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2009, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. Idera disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Tarceva is a registered trademark of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Avastin is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc. Erbitux is a registered trademark of ImClone Systems Incorporated. Camptosar is a registered trademark of Pfizer.

Contact:

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