TopoTarget and CuraGen Initiate Phase II Trial of Belinostat (PXD101) in Combination with Velcade® for Refractory Multiple Myeloma

TopoTarget A/S
Symbion
Fruebjergvej 3
DK 2100 Copenhagen
Denmark
Tel: +45 39 17 83 92
Fax: +45 39 17 94 92
CVR-nr: 25695771

To the Copenhagen Stock Exchange
Announcement No. 06-07 / Copenhagen 27 March 2007


TopoTarget and CuraGen Initiate Phase II Trial of Belinostat (PXD101) in
Combination with Velcade® for Refractory Multiple Myeloma 

Copenhagen, 27 March 2007, TopoTarget A/S (CSE: TOPO) and CuraGen Corporation
(NASDAQ: CRGN) announced today the initiation of patient dosing in a Phase II
open-label, multi-center clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of
intravenous belinostat (PXD101), a small molecule histone deacetylase (HDAC)
inhibitor, in combination with Velcade® (borte-zomib) for Injection, in
multiple myeloma patients refractory to or who have rapidly relapsed from at
least one previous bortezomib-containing regimen. 

Based on preliminary safety results from ongoing Phase Ib trials evaluating
belinostat in combination with bortezomib, TopoTarget and CuraGen have
initiated this Phase II trial in multiple myeloma patients. The Phase II
clinical trial is being led by James Berenson, M.D., Principal Investigator,
Medical & Scientific Director at the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer
Research, and will be conducted at multiple sites across the U.S.  Up to 35
patients are planned for study enrollment with preliminary results anticipated
by the end of 2007. 

“Based on our preclinical studies that showed markedly increased anti-myeloma
effects when belinostat was combined with bortezomib to treat a
bortezomib-resistant myeloma in immunodeficient mice, we look forward to
enrolling bortezomib-resistant multiple myeloma patients into this Phase II
trial and determining whether the combination can provide clinical benefit to
multiple myeloma patients that have failed, or who have relapsed on borte-zomib
therapy,” commented Dr. Berenson. 

“Emerging safety results from our clinical trials that are evaluating
belinostat and bortezomib have shown the combination to be generally
well-tolerated.  Therefore, we have initiated this Phase II study to allow
relapsed and/or re-fractory multiple myeloma patients the ability to receive
treatment with belinostat and bortezomib, and anticipate reporting preliminary
results from the study by the end of the year,” commented Peter Buhl Jensen,
Chief Ex-ecutive Officer of TopoTarget.  “As data continues to be generated
from our Phase II trials in ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and T-cell
lymphomas, we look forward to presenting preliminary results during mid-2007,
and remain on track to initiate a Phase III program during 2008 and advance
belinostat towards registration.” 

In vitro studies published in the literature have shown that HDAC inhibitors
and bortezomib, when combined act synergistically through independent
mechanisms leading to enhanced killing of cancer cells.  During the 2006 ASH
Annual Meeting, preclinical results evaluating belinostat in combination with
bortezomib were presented in poster entitled, “Effects of a Novel Histone
Deacetylase Inhibitor, PXD101, When Used as Monotherapy or in Combination with
Bortezomib on Tumor Growth in a Mouse Model of Human Multiple Mye-loma.”  The
data suggest that when mice bearing bortezomib-resistant hu-man tumors were
treated with the combination of belinostat and bortezomib, greater inhibition
of both tumor growth and circulating human IgG levels were observed than when
either drug was used alone, and the mice tolerated the combination well without
obvious adverse effects.  These results suggest that treatment with belinostat
in combination with bortezomib may be an effective therapy for
bortezomib-resistant multiple myeloma. 

As this Phase II study of belinostat and bortezomib begins, CuraGen will close
enrollment in their ongoing Phase Ib study of this combination in multiple
myeloma.  The NCI-sponsored trial evaluating this combination on patients with
advanced solid tumors remains open for enrollment. 

TopoTarget A/S

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Peter Buhl Jensen		Telephone	 +45 39 17 83 41
Chief Executive Officer		Mobile	 +45 21 60 89 22

Tim Corcoran			Telephone	 +44 1235 443 713
Chief Operating Officer		Mobile	 +44 787 656 1027


Background information

About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a progressive cancer arising from a particular type of
blood cell, called plasma cells.  It is the second most prevalent blood cancer
in the U.S. with nearly 50,000 individuals suffering from MM, and more than
15,000 new cases ex-pected to be diagnosed this year.  MM is characterized by
excessive numbers of ab-normal plasma cells in the bone marrow and the
overproduction of abnormal immu-noglobulins.  As a result of MM, patients may
develop bone lesions, anemia, elevated blood calcium levels, kidney damage, and
a decreased ability to fight off infections. Despite the availability of
treatments for MM, there is currently no cure for this disease. 

About Belinostat (PXD101)
Belinostat is a promising small molecule HDAC inhibitor being investigated for
its role in the treatment of a wide range of solid and hematologic malignancies
either as a single-agent, or in combination with other active anti-cancer
agents, including 5-FU, car-boplatin, paclitaxel, cis-retinoic acid,
azacitidine and Velcade® (bortezomib) for Injec-tion.  HDAC inhibitors
represent a new mechanistic class of anti-cancer therapeutics that target HDAC
enzymes and have been shown to: arrest growth of cancer cells (in-cluding drug
resistant subtypes); induce apoptosis, or programmed cell death; promote
differentiation; inhibit angiogenesis; and sensitize cancer cells to overcome
drug resis-tance when used in combination with other anti-cancer agents. 

Intravenous belinostat is currently being evaluated in multiple clinical trials
as a poten-tial treatment for multiple myeloma, T- and B-cell lymphomas, AML,
mesothelioma, liver, colorectal, ovarian cancers, either alone or in
combination with anti-cancer thera-pies.  An oral formulation of belinostat is
also being evaluated in a Phase I clinical trial for patients with advanced
solid tumors.  In August 2004, CuraGen signed a Clinical Trials Agreement with
the NCI under which the NCI will sponsor several clinical trials to investigate
belinostat for the treatment of various cancers, both as a single-agent and in
combination chemotherapy regimens.  In May 2005, TopoTarget announced the
signing of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the
NCI to conduct preclinical and nonclinical studies on belinostat in order to
better understand its anti-tumor activity and to provide supporting information
for clinical trials. 




About TopoTarget
TopoTarget (OMX - The Nordic Exchange: TOPO) is a biopharmaceutical company,
headquartered in Denmark and with subsidiaries in the UK, Germany and the USA,
dedicated to finding ''Answers for Cancer'' and developing improved cancer
therapies. TopoTarget is founded and run by clinical cancer specialists and
combines years of hands-on clinical experience with in-depth understanding of
the molecular mechanisms of cancer. Focus lies on highly predictive cancer
models and key cancer enzyme regula-tors (mainly HDAC, mTOR, and topoisomerase
II inhibitors) and a strong development foundation has been built. TopoTarget
has a broad portfolio of small molecule preclini-cal drug candidates and seven
drugs are in clinical development, including both novel anti-cancer
therapeutics and new cancer indications for existing drugs. Savene™ is
TopoTarget's first product on the market. In addition to organic growth,
TopoTarget consistently looks for opportunities to strengthen and expand its
activities through acquisitions and in-licensing. For more information, please
refer to Hwww.topotarget.com.H 

About CuraGen
CuraGen Corporation (NASDAQ: CRGN) is a biopharmaceutical company developing
diverse approaches, including novel protein, antibody, and small molecule
therapeutics, that aim to offer hope for patients with cancer, inflammatory
diseases, and diabetes. CuraGen's strategic alliances have resulted in a deep
pipeline of potential therapeutics that is being developed by the Company's
experienced research and development teams. By leveraging the drug development
strengths cultivated over the years, Cur-aGen expects to make a difference in
the lives of patients by bringing forward promis-ing therapeutics that address
unmet medical needs.  To further capitalize on CuraGen's extensive research and
development expertise, CuraGen founded a majority-owned subsidiary, 454 Life
Sciences, which has developed and is commercializing advanced technologies for
the sequencing of DNA. CuraGen and 454 Life Sciences are headquar-tered in
Branford, Connecticut. For additional information please visit www.curagen.com. 

TopoTarget Safe Harbour Statement
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including statements
about our expectations of the progression of our preclinical and clinical
pipeline includ-ing the timing for commencement and completion of clinical
trials and with respect to cash burn guidance.  Such statements are based on
management's current expecta-tions and are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements.  TopoTarget cautions investors
that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will
not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, 
the following: the risk that any one or more of the drug development programs
of TopoTarget will not proceed as planned for technical, scientific or
commercial reasons or due to patient enrolment issues or based on new
information from nonclinical or clinical studies or from other sources; the
success of competing products and technolo-gies; technological uncertainty and
product development risks;  uncertainty of addi-tional funding; TopoTarget's
history of incurring losses and the uncertainty of achieving profitability;
TopoTarget's stage of development as a biopharmaceutical company; government
regulation; patent infringement claims against TopoTarget's products, processes
and technologies; the ability to protect TopoTarget's patents and proprietary
rights; uncertainties relating to commercialization rights; and product
liability expo-sure; We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.