HBY Hybridon

Hybridon Presents New Preclinical Antitumor Data at AACR Supporting its IMOxine Development Program Lead Clinical Candidate is a Toll-like Receptor 9 Agonist CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hybridon, Inc. (AMEX:HBY) announced today that it is presenting data from two new preclinical antitumor and immunopharmacological studies of its lead Phase 2 clinical candidate IMOxine(R), an agonist of Toll-like receptor 9, at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research being held in Anaheim, CA, April 16-20, 2005. "The data from these studies reinforce our belief as to the many potential applications of our lead oncology drug candidate, IMOxine, in treating cancer as a monotherapy, in combination therapy, or as part of a peptide/protein- based cancer vaccine," said Dr. Tim Sullivan, Vice President of Development Programs at Hybridon, Inc. "IMOxine is currently in a monotherapy Phase 2 trial in patients with renal cell carcinoma and we expect to commence a new clinical trial to evaluate IMOxine in combination with chemotherapy in an additional cancer indication later this year." The two posters presented are entitled: i) A second-generation immunomodulatory oligonucleotide agonist of TLR9 shows antitumor activity and enhances effects of chemotherapy, radiation and antibody therapy in vitro and in vivo. Abstract # 720. ii) Synthetic oligonucleotide agonists of Toll-like receptor 9 enhance immunological responses and antitumor activity of peptide cancer vaccines. Abstract # 723. Both abstracts are available on the Company's website http://www.hybridon.com/ . Studies described in abstract #720 have been done under a research contract with the University of Alabama at Birmingham. About IMOxine IMOxine is a 2nd-generation immune modulatory oligonucleotide (IMO(TM)) that functions as an agonist of Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9), a specific protein receptor in certain cells of the immune system. Other receptors also may play a role in the immune system response to IMOxine. TLR9 has been shown to recognize bacterial DNA and induce a defensive immune response, producing a Th1-type cytokine profile through activation of dendritic cells and B lymphocytes. We have studied IMOxine and its murine analogue in a variety of preclinical tumor models as monotherapy, in combinations with selected chemotherapeutic agents and monoclonal antibodies, and with radiation. IMOxine is also known as HYB2055 for Injection. About Hybridon Hybridon, Inc. is developing novel therapeutics based on synthetic nucleic acid chemistry for the treatment of cancer, asthma/allergies, and infectious diseases. Hybridon's proprietary IMO drug candidates are designed to modulate immune responses through Toll-like receptors, the body's first line of defense against disease. The Company's nucleic acid chemistry expertise has also generated a portfolio of partnered products and intellectual property, creating the potential for long-term value for Hybridon. For more information please visit our website at http://www.hybridon.com/ . This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Hybridon 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 Hybridon's actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including risks as to whether results obtained in preclinical studies such as the studies referred to in this release or early clinical trials will be indicative of results obtained in future preclinical studies or clinical trials, or warrant further clinical trials and product development; whether products based on Hybridon's technology will advance through the clinical trial process and receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether, if such products receive approval, they will be successfully distributed and marketed; whether the patents and patent applications owned or licensed by Hybridon will protect the Company's technology and prevent others from infringing it; whether Hybridon's cash resources will be sufficient to fund product development; whether the Company's collaborations will be successful; and such other important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Hybridon's Quarterly Report on Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2005, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. Hybridon disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: Hybridon, Inc. CONTACT: Tim Sullivan of Hybridon, Inc., +1-617-679-5500, ext. 5526, ; Douglas MacDougall of MacDougall Biomedical Communications, +1-508-647-0209 ext. 12, , for Hybridon, Inc. Web site: http://www.hybridon.com/

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