TargeGen News

January 5, 2005

San Diego, CA – January 4, 2005 - TargeGen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical
company focusing on edema, cardiovascular (ischemic) diseases, eye disease
and cancer, today announced that the Company has initiated a 100 patient
Phase I/II clinical trial of TG100-115, a potent selective PI3- kinase
inhibitor that has demonstrated the ability to suppress vascular leakage
(edema) and significantly reduce infarct size in pre-clinical models of
acute myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) is the number one disease related cause
of death in the developed world with approximately 2.1 million new cases
per year in the USA, Western Europe and Japan. Following a heart attack,
the condition of hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) activates kinase signaling
cascades which cause biochemical changes to blood vessels that permit
leakage and inflammation. The leakage out of the vasculature contributes to
microcirculatory collapse, heart tissue damage and ultimate infarct size. 
TG100-115, when administered intravenously, has been designed to block
vascular leakage and inflammation following an ischemic event. By
preventing vascular leakage and reducing inflammation related reperfusion
injury, heart muscle tissue is preserved.

“The initiation of this trial is an important milestone for TargeGen”
stated Peter G. Ulrich, president, CEO and Co-Founder of TargeGen.
“TG100-115 is an important new first in class drug candidate that
potentially addresses a leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide.  In
addition to TG100-115, TargeGen is developing TG 100-435, an orally
available compound for oncology and edema indications and TG 100-344 for
eye diseases (macular edema). All current TargeGen compounds to date have
been internally discovered and developed.

About TargeGen, Inc.
TargeGen, Inc., is a privately held vascular biology-focused
biopharmaceutical company based in San Diego, CA. TargeGen is developing
novel small molecule therapeutics to treat edema, cancer and ischemic
diseases (heart attack, stroke) by targeting certain biochemical processes
associated with the formation and repair of blood vessels and vascular
permeability (edema). TargeGen, which initiated operations in 2002, has
raised more than $40M from top tier venture capital sources. Key investors
include Forward Ventures, Enterprise Partners, William Blair Capital
Partners, VantagePoint Venture Partners, China Development Industrial Bank
(CDIB), A.M. Pappas & Associates and other investors.