Idera Pharmaceuticals Forms Autoimmune Disease Scientific Advisory Board

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Idera Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: IDRA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics targeting Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs), today announced the formation of an Autoimmune Disease Scientific Advisory Board.

“We are pleased to have the participation of distinguished clinicians and researchers with extensive experience in the field of autoimmune diseases and biomarkers,” said Sudhir Agrawal, D. Phil., Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer. “Our TLR antagonist candidates have demonstrated activity in a broad range of preclinical models including lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. We will be working with the members of our Advisory Board to define the development strategy for our TLR antagonists in autoimmune diseases, including the initial clinical indication for our lead drug candidate.”

Members of the Autoimmune Disease Scientific Advisory Board are:

Mary K. Crow, M.D.

Benjamin M. Rosen Chair in Immunology and Inflammation Research

Professor of Medicine and Director of Rheumatology Research and

Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program

Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY

Richard Furie, M.D.

Chief, Division of Rheumatology and Allergy-Clinical Immunology

Director, The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Autoimmune Disease

Treatment Center

Director, The Program in Novel Therapeutics

North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, Lake Success, NY

Professor of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Doug T. Golenbock, M.D.

Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics & Microbiology

Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases & Immunology

University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA

Bevra H. Hahn, M.D.

Chief, Division of Rheumatology

Professor of Medicine

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Andrew D. Luster, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology

Director, Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Persis, Cyrus and Marlow B. Harrison Professor of Medicine (Immunology)

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Ann Marshak Rothstein, Ph.D.

Professor of Microbiology

Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

David Pisetsky, M.D.

Professor of Medicine and Immunology

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Vibeke Strand, M.D., FACP, FACR

Clinical Professor, Adj., Division of Immunology/Rheumatology

Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

Michael Weinblatt, M.D.John R. and Eileen K. Riedman Professor of Medicine

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

About Idera’s TLR Antagonists

Idera’s TLR antagonists are based on synthetic DNA and have been designed through extensive structure-activity relationship studies. These antagonists have been shown in preclinical assays to suppress immune responses mediated through TLR7 and TLR9. Selected antagonist candidates have been studied in a broad range of preclinical models including lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lung inflammation. Evaluations of TLR antagonists in additional disease models are in progress.

About Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Idera Pharmaceuticals develops drug candidates to treat infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and respiratory diseases, and for use as vaccine adjuvants. Our proprietary drug candidates are designed to modulate specific Toll-like Receptors, which are a family of immune system receptors that direct immune system responses. Our pioneering DNA and RNA chemistry expertise enables us to create drug candidates for internal development and generates opportunities for multiple collaborative alliances. For more information, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.iderapharma.com/" 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 a lead candidate is successfully identified for preclinical development studies; 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 will be successful; whether the patents and patent applications owned or licensed by the Company will protect the Company’s technology and prevent others from infringing it; 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 May 12, 2008, which important factors are incorporated herein by reference. Idera disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.