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OXiGENE'S Novel Cathepsin L Inhibitors Demonstrate Antitumor Efficacy in Preclinical Studies

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OXiGENE, Inc. (Nasdaq:OXGN), a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, announced the presentation of positive preclinical data supporting development of its novel, non-peptidic cathepsin L inhibitors as anticancer agents. The data were presented today at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research in Orlando, Florida.
/ Source: GlobeNewswire

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OXiGENE, Inc. (Nasdaq:OXGN), a clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, announced the presentation of positive preclinical data supporting development of its novel, non-peptidic cathepsin L inhibitors as anticancer agents. The data were presented today at the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research in Orlando, Florida.

Cysteine cathepsins are a family of lysosomal proteases that are often up-regulated in a variety of cancers and that have been implicated in key processes in cancer progression. Small molecule inhibitors of the cysteine protease cathepsin L have the potential to limit degradation of extracellular matrix in the normal tissue surrounding the tumor, thus retarding cancer metastasis. It has also been established that cathepsin L is involved in blood vessel development, and thus inhibitors have the potential to suppress tumor growth and dissemination through an anti-angiogenic effect.

"The discovery of new chemotherapeutic strategies for inhibiting the growth and spread of cancer, such as our novel class of cathepsin inhibitors, represents an important achievement in the effort to enhance both cancer patient quality of life and survival. We are very encouraged by the preclinical safety and efficacy data presented at the AACR meeting with our small molecule cathepsin L inhibitors. Our goal is to advance these promising agents towards clinical evaluation," said Dr. Dai Chaplin, OXiGENE's Chief Scientific Officer

In a presentation titled, Abrogation of Prostate Cancer Cell Metastatic Phenotype by Cathepsin L Inhibition, Dhivya Sudhan and Professor Dietmar Siemann from The Shands Cancer Center at The University of Florida demonstrated that OXiGENE's lead cathepsin L inhibitor, KGP94, inhibited the metastatic phenotype in the three human prostate cancer cell lines. KGP94 mediated abrogation of tumor cell migration and invasion occurred in the absence of cytotoxic effects and was a consequence of an inhibitory effect on secreted and not nuclear cathespsin-L.

Professor Siemann commented: "Our findings strongly support a mechanism of action where KGP94 affects the ability of cathepsin-L to break down extracellular matrix, which is important in invasive and angiogenic processes."   

A second presentation, titled Development and Initial Evaluation of the Antitumor Activity of a Functionalized Benzophenone Thiosemicarbazone Inhibitor of Cathepsin L, by Professors Mary Lynn Trawick and Kevin G. Pinney from Baylor University and Professor Michael Horsman from Arhus University Hospital in Denmark, demonstrated that KGP94 and other structurally related compounds inhibited the invasion and migration of DU145 prostate cancer cells through matrigel. In addition, the professors presented initial in vivo data from a mouse breast cancer model showing significant antitumor effects against both recently implanted and established tumors. These antitumor effects are consistent with a mechanism impacting tumor growth and vascularization.

About OXiGENE, Inc.

OXiGENE is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel small-molecule therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases. The Company's major focus is the clinical advancement of drug candidates that selectively disrupt abnormal blood vessels associated with solid tumor progression and visual impairment. OXiGENE is dedicated to leveraging its intellectual property position and therapeutic development expertise to bring life saving and enhancing medicines to patients.

The OXiGENE, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4969

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this press release, which includes statements about expectations, plans and future development of OXiGENE's technologies, may turn out to be wrong. Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions OXiGENE might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk that the development of OXiGENE's cathepsin L inhibitor-based therapeutics may be delayed, may not proceed as planned, or may not be completed. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in OXiGENE's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including OXiGENE's reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. However, OXiGENE undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Investor and Media Contact: Michelle Edwards, Investor Relations medwards@oxigene.com 650-635-7006