Another LNA-based RNA Inhibitor Enters Clinical Trials

Copenhagen (ots/PRNewswire) -

- EZN3042 - a Survivin Inhibitor Jointly Developed by Enzon
Pharmaceuticals and Santaris Pharma Advances into the Clinic for
Patients With Solid Tumors and Lymphomas

Santaris Pharma announced today that the fourth LNA-based drug
has been brought into the clinic. In the USA several patients with
cancer have now been treated with the Company's Survivin inhibitor,
which is jointly developed by Santaris Pharma and Enzon
Pharmaceuticals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently
accepted Enzon Pharmaceutical's Investigational New Drug (IND)
application for the use of the LNA-based Survivin inhibitor.

Survivin is a key protein that controls cancer growth by playing
a significant role in cell division, as well as inhibiting the
programming that controls cell death. The Survivin inhibitor was
developed using the Locked Nucleic Acid technology. In preclinical
animal studies, EZN-3042 inhibited Survivin expression and tumor
growth. It also potentiated the antitumor activity of taxol, an
approved cancer therapeutic.

"Survivin is considered one of the most promising cancer targets
and we are pleased that we were able to quickly advance this
important compound into patients," said Jeffrey H. Buchalter,
chairman and chief executive officer of Enzon Pharmaceuticals.

EZN3042 is one of eight LNA-based RNA inhibitors being developed
by Santaris Pharma and Enzon Pharmaceuticals through a comprehensive
partnership within the therapeutic area of cancer. Another compound
forming part of the collaboration, EZN2968, an LNA-based hif1alfa
inhibitor, is currently being investigated in two Phase I/II trials
against a variety of cancers. Under the terms of the agreement, Enzon
will have exclusive rights to develop and commercialize these
compounds in the U.S. and other non-European territories. Santaris
Pharma will retain exclusive rights to commercialization in Europe.

"This is the fourth LNA-based drug that has been brought into the
clinic in record time either by ourselves or by a partner of ours
based on our highly effective Drug Discovery Engine," said Henrik
0rum, CSO at Santaris Pharma. "We are very pleased by the achievement
of this milestone and look forward to seeing other new LNA-based
compounds advance into clinical trials across a range of therapeutic
areas in the near future."

At the Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting being held
April 18-22, 2009 in Colorado, Enzon Pharmaceuticals will present
data on EZN3042 as well as on new LNA targets. Abstracts related to
those targets are now available on http://www.aacr.org.

"Novel releasable PEG-nanoparticles enhance delivery of RNA
antagonist oligonucleotides in tumor cells and in mice"

"EZN-2208, a novel pegylated SN-38 drug conjugate, markedly
inhibits tumor growth and metastatic spreading of human
neuroblastoma"

"Androgen receptor (AR) down regulation by locked nucleic acid
antisense oligonucleotides specifically inhibits the growth of
AR-positive tumor cells"

"The antitumor activity of EZN-4150, a potent LNA-based PIK3CA
antagonist"

"EZN-3042, a novel locked nucleic acid oligonucleotide against
survivin, inhibits survivin expression and confers taxol sensitivity"

"EZN-3920, an LNA antisense oligonucleotide RNA antagonist, down
modulates HER3 expression and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and enhances
antiproliferative effect of Gefitinib in tumor cells"

http://www.santaris.com

About Santaris Pharma

Santaris Pharma is a privately held biopharmaceutical company
with exclusive rights to use the LNA Drug Platform to develop new
classes of RNA medicines targeting mRNAs and miRNAs associated with
disease. The Company's own research and development activities focus
on microRNAs, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders. In
addition, Santaris Pharma is leveraging its highly effective and
efficient drug discovery engine to generate lead LNA drug candidates
against a broad array of disease targets selected by strategic
partners. Santaris Pharma was founded in 2003 and the Company and its
corporate partners currently have four compounds in clinical
development and a full pipeline in late preclinical development.
Current partners are Enzon Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline and Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals. Santaris Pharma has since its inception raised
nearly $100 million through private financing and up front payments.

About Enzon

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to developing, manufacturing and commercializing important
medicines for patients with cancer and other life-threatening
conditions. The Company has a portfolio of four marketed products,
Oncaspar(R), DepoCyt(R), Abelcet(R) and Adagen(R). Enzon's drug
development programs utilize several cutting-edge approaches,
including its industry-leading PEGylation technology platform and
the Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology. Enzon's PEGylation
technology was used to develop two of its products, Oncaspar and
Adagen, and has created a royalty revenue stream from licensing
partner-ships for other products developed using the technology.
Enzon also engages in contract manufacturing for several
pharmaceutical companies to broaden the Company's revenue base.

ots Originaltext: Santaris Pharma A/S
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contact: Randi Krogsgaard, Director, Corporate Communications, Direct
phone +45-4517-9879, Cell: +45-20488384, E-mail: rmk@santaris.com