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Corgentech Announces Patent Issuance for E2F Transcription Factor Decoy Technology

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug 17, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Corgentech Inc. (Nasdaq: CGTK), a biotechnology company, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 6,774,118. The patent covers a method for preventing formation of neointimal thickening leading to restenosis and vessel occlusion with any double-stranded oligonucleotide decoy that binds to the transcription factor, E2F, regardless of the sequence of such decoy. The patent is assigned to Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, and is exclusively licensed to Corgentech. E2F is a transcription factor family that is responsible for the activation of genes involved in the growth and proliferation of the smooth muscle cells that can lead to neointimal hyperplasia, plaque build-up, venous graft failure or restenosis.

"We are very pleased by the issuance of the latest, and one of the most fundamental, U.S. patents protecting our E2F Decoy technology," said John P. McLaughlin, Corgentech's president and chief executive officer. "U.S. 6,774,118 further solidifies our intellectual property position as we move toward commercial development of our lead product candidate."

In October 2003, Corgentech, Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company entered into an agreement to jointly develop and commercialize Corgentech's edifoligide (E2F Decoy), a first-of-its-kind treatment currently in Phase III development for the prevention of vein graft failure following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and peripheral artery (i.e. leg) bypass graft surgery.

About Corgentech

Corgentech is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of a new class of therapeutics called transcription factor decoys, or TF decoys. We are creating a pipeline of novel therapeutics based on our proprietary TF decoy technology, focused initially on the treatment of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disease, such as arthritis and dermatitis, and cancer. For more information on the company and its technology, visit www.corgentech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation all statements related to our clinical trials, product candidates and collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intend," "will," "slated," "goal" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the progress, timing and results of our clinical trials, intellectual property matters, difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval, manufacturing our lead product candidate, competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, our ability to obtain additional financing to support our operations and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Corgentech undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

SOURCE Corgentech Inc.

Richard Powers of Corgentech Inc., +1-650-624-9600, or
[email protected]; or Daryl Messinger of WeissComm Partners,
+1-415-999-2361, or [email protected], for Corgentech Inc.

http://www.corgentech.com

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