Curis, Inc. has initiated a new strategic focus on seeking to develop later-stage drug development programs and to de-emphasize its earlier-stage discovery research. This new direction represents an expansion of Curis’ continuing strategy to mitigate risk by seeking to both create and acquire a broad portfolio of later-developmental stage assets and maximize the company’s capacity and competencies in drug development. Curis will also continue to evaluate in-licensing opportunities to augment the company’s proprietary later-stage preclinical pipeline.

Daniel R. Passeri, president and chief executive officer of Curis, Inc., stated, “As Curis executes on its efforts to move closer to the clinic with its preclinical drug candidates, over the next year, we intend to shift our strategic focus away from early-stage discovery research into later-preclinical stage drug development.” As part of this transition and aligned with this strategy, Dr. Lee Rubin, the company’s executive vice president and chief scientific officer, will step down as Curis’ chief scientific officer. He will continue his involvement with the company as a scientific consultant. Board member Dr. Joseph Davie will serve as interim chief scientific officer and will temporarily oversee Curis’ drug programs while also assisting the company in its efforts to build a more development-focused scientific team.

Dr. Davie has served on the Curis board since July 2003. From 1993 to 2000, he was the senior vice president of research at Biogen, Inc., now Biogen Idec. Prior to joining Biogen, Dr. Davie held several senior positions at G.D. Searle and Co., including senior vice president of Science and Technology and president of R&D. Dr. Davie serves on the boards of several public and private biotechnology companies.