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Critical Therapeutics Announces Abstracts Presented at European Molecular Biology Organization HMGB1 Workshop

Posted on: Friday, 17 February 2006, 09:00 CST

Critical Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRTX) today announced that five abstracts related to its anti-HMGB1 (High Mobility Group Box 1) program were presented at the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Workshop, "Innate Danger Signals and HMGB1," that was held in Milan, Italy. The anti-HMGB1 program is a collaboration between Critical Therapeutics and MedImmune, Inc.

"EMBO is one of Europe's most distinguished bioscience organizations, so the acceptance of these abstracts represents major recognition from an important group of peers," said Walter Newman, Ph.D., Critical Therapeutics' chief scientific officer. "EMBO's decision to devote a specific workshop to HMGB1 highlights the significance of this cytokine and the emerging discoveries about its role in diseases."

The following posters from the Critical Therapeutics/MedImmune collaboration were presented during the workshop:

-- "Activities of Human Monoclonal Anti-HMGB1 Antibody in Murine Models of Sepsis," Jane Tian, et al; MedImmune, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.

-- "Enrichment of Native Secreted HMGB1 From Primary Human Monocytes and Monotocyte Cell Lines," P Rao, et al; Critical Therapeutics, Inc., Lexington, Mass. and MedImmune, Inc.

-- "Mammalian HMGB1 Synergizes with TLR Ligands to Induce Cytokines Secretion," Su Yao Mao, Ph.D., et al; MedImmune, Inc.

-- "Synergy Between HMGB1 and Toll-like Receptor Ligands," S. Qin, et al; Critical Therapeutics, Inc.

-- "Antagonizing HMGB1 Blocks Inflammation and Tissue Damage in Experimental Arthritis," Jane Tian, et al; MedImmune, Inc.

In addition to these posters, during the EMBO workshop Gregory J. LaRosa, Ph.D., Critical Therapeutics' vice president, discovery research, delivered a presentation entitled, "Insights into the Pro-Inflammatory Activity of HMGB1, and its Blockade as a Therapy for Severe Acute Inflammation." The keynote address, "Biology of HMGB1 in Health and Disease," was delivered by Critical Therapeutics' co-founder, Kevin Tracey, M.D.

About Anti-HMGB1 MAb

HMGB1, a pro-inflammatory protein secreted by different cell types, is part of the body's response to trauma and infection. HMGB1 is expressed at high levels beginning 12 to 72 hours after an injury, which is about the time inflammation-associated tissue damage begins. Because of the timing and duration of expression of HMGB1, it may be an important factor in the sequence of events that result in severe tissue damage following injury or during chronic inflammation. Preclinical data suggest that a blocking antibody to HMGB1 may provide protection in chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, and in acute life-threatening conditions, such as sepsis.

Inflammation is a key contributor to a number of chronic and acute diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis, which have been the focus of the collaboration to date. According to the Arthritis Foundation, rheumatoid arthritis affects one percent of the U.S. population, or 2.1 million Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that three quarters of a million people develop severe sepsis each year in the U.S. and that more than 200,000 of those people do not survive.

About EMBO

Established in 1964, the European Molecular Biology Organization (www.embo.org) promotes bioscience in Europe through targeted programs and activities. The EMBO membership includes some of the leading researchers in Europe and represents a highly dynamic cross-section of the life sciences community. The organization elects new members annually on the basis of proven excellence in research. Currently there are 1,100 EMBO elected members in Europe and more than 60 associate members globally. More than 38 members have been awarded the Nobel Prize.

About Critical Therapeutics

Critical Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of products for respiratory, inflammatory and critical care diseases. The Company owns worldwide rights to ZYFLO(R) (zileuton tablets), as well as other formulations of zileuton. ZYFLO is the only 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Company's commercialization efforts for ZYFLO are carried out by its 80-person specialty sales force. Critical Therapeutics also is developing treatments directed toward the severe inflammatory response in acute diseases and conditions that lead to admission to the emergency room or intensive care unit, and acute exacerbations of other chronic diseases that frequently lead to hospitalization. For more information, please visit www.crtx.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Critical Therapeutics, Inc., including, without limitation, statements regarding the progress and timing of our anti-HMGB1 program, statements regarding possible indications or therapeutic benefits of the HMGB1 program, and all other statements that are not purely historical in nature, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "anticipate,""believe,""could,""estimate,""expect,""intend,""may,""plan,""project,""should,""will,""would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks and uncertainties relating to the results of preclinical studies and clinical trials with respect to our products under development and whether such results will be indicative of results obtained in later clinical trials; our heavy dependence on the commercial success of ZYFLO and the approval of the controlled-release formulation of zileuton currently in development; our ability to obtain the substantial additional funding required to conduct our research, development and commercialization activities; our dependence on our strategic collaboration with MedImmune, Inc.; and our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for ZYFLO, our drug candidates and our discoveries. These and other risks are described in greater detail in the "Factors That May Affect Future Results" section of our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other filings that we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

In addition, the statements in this release reflect our expectations and beliefs as of the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our expectations and beliefs to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements publicly at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

ZYFLO(R) is a registered trademark of Critical Therapeutics, Inc.

Source: Business Wire

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