Idera Pharmaceuticals to Participate in Therapeutic Workshop at BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2008

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDRA) today announced that Sudhir Agrawal, D. Phil., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer, will participate in a therapeutic workshop during the 10^th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2008 taking place at the Waldorf=Astoria hotel in New York City February 11-13, 2008.

“Non-Cancer Immunotherapy: It’s not just about cancer anymore”

The therapeutic workshop, entitled, “Non-Cancer Immunotherapy: It’s not just about cancer anymore” will begin at 9:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday, February 13. Dr. Agrawal will discuss the Company’s drug discovery and development programs targeting Toll-like Receptors and provide a general corporate overview.

About TLRs

Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) function in human immune cells as the sensors of pathogens. They recognize different microbial products present in pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, and mount an appropriate immune response against the foreign invaders. TLRs have also been shown to recognize endogenous ligands in autoimmune diseases. TLRs have become attractive targets for developing immune modulators to treat a variety of diseases.

About Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Idera Pharmaceuticals is a drug discovery and development company that is developing drug candidates to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. The Company’s proprietary drug candidates are designed to modulate specific TLRs, which are a family of immune system receptors present in immune system cells that direct the immune system to respond to potential disease threats. The Company’s pioneering DNA chemistry expertise enables us to identify drug candidates for internal development and creates opportunities for multiple collaborative alliances. The Company’s lead TLR9 agonist, IMO-2125, is currently in a Phase 1 trial for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. The Company has also created novel DNA-based compounds that have been shown to act as antagonists to TLRs 7 and 9 in preclinical studies. The Company is collaborating with Merck KGaA for the research, development and commercialization of our most advanced clinical candidate, IMO-2055, as well as IMO-2125 and other TLR9 agonists for the treatment of cancer. The Company is also collaborating with Merck & Co., Inc. for the use of our TLR7, 8 and 9 agonists in combination with Merck & Co.’s therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines in the areas of oncology, infectious diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the Company is collaborating with Novartis International Pharmaceutical, Ltd. for the discovery, development, and commercialization of TLR9 agonists for the treatment of asthma and allergy indications. Merck & Co. of the U.S. is not related to Merck KGaA of Germany. For more information, please visit www.iderapharma.com.

Idera Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 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 Idera’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including whether products based on Idera’s technology will advance into or through the clinical trial process on a timely basis or at all and receive approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; whether, if the Company’s products receive approval, they will be successfully distributed and marketed; whether the Company’s collaborations with Novartis, Merck & Co., and Merck KGaA will be successful; whether Idera’s cash resources will be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations; and such other important factors as are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Idera’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2007, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. Idera disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.