MAXIM PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES TWO U.S. PATENTS ISSUED FOR CASPASE INHIBITORS

27-Mar-2001

San Diego, CA, March 22, 2001 - Maxim Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq NM: MAXM, SSE: MAXM) announced today that the United States Patent & Trademark Office has issued the Company two new patents that support the Company's caspase modulator technology for the treatment of a diverse set of degenerative diseases, including those afflicting the heart and neurological systems. U.S. patents 6,153,591 and 6,184,210, titled "Dipeptide Caspase inhibitors and the Use Thereof" and "Dipeptide apoptosis Inhibitors and the Use Thereof," respectively, encompass pharmaceutical compositions for various families of caspase inhibitors identified through Maxim's caspase modulator screening program and their use in treating a diverse set of degenerative disorders. Caspases are key enzymes in the body that modulate and carry out the cellular signaling pathways involved in programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. Compounds that inhibit caspases and thereby prevent apoptosis may have potential for treating a broad class of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and other degenerative diseases where apoptosis plays a role. "Our goal is to continue to expand our patent protection so that it keeps pace with the growing portfolio of caspase-modulator compounds emerging from our research efforts," said Larry G. Stambaugh, CEO and President of Maxim Pharmaceuticals. "Caspase modulators represent a key opportunity as they have the potential to address a wide range of diseases, and we expect to advance the development of these candidates through a combination of internal and collaborative efforts." Maxim Pharmaceuticals is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing advanced drugs and therapies for cancer and infectious diseases. Ceplene[tm] (histamine dihydrochloride), the company's lead product candidate, is undergoing Phase 3 cancer clinical trials in 12 countries for malignant melanoma and acute myelogenous leukemia, in addition to Phase 2 trials in hepatitis C and advanced renal cell carcinoma. The company has also developed product candidates based on its MaxDerm[tm] technology that are designed for the treatment of medical conditions for which topical therapy is appropriate such as oral mucositis, herpes, decubitus ulcers, shingles, burns and related conditions. Lastly, Maxim is developing small-molecule inhibitors and activators of caspases, key enzymes that modulate and carry out the cellular signaling pathways involved in programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis. Compounds that can either inhibit caspases or induce caspases may form the basis for important new drugs for a wide variety of disease targets, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and other degenerative diseases.

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