Cerimon Pharmaceuticals Licenses Exclusive Worldwide Rights to Simulect® for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

February 21, 2006

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has licensed from Novartis Pharma AG the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize Simulect® (basiliximab) for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Currently marketed by Novartis for the prevention of organ rejection in renal transplant recipients, Simulect® is a monoclonal antibody that selectively blocks the receptor for interleukin-2 (IL-2), providing highly targeted inhibition of T-lymphocyte activation involved in serious immune-related disease.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cerimon will be responsible for the development and marketing of Simulect® (for injection) for IBD, while Novartis will continue to market it in the transplantation indications. Upon approval for its use in IBD, Cerimon will market Simulect® and share revenue from net sales in this field with Novartis. The companies have also agreed that Cerimon will receive performance-based milestone payments. Additional financial terms are not disclosed.

This licensing agreement marks the second major deal for Cerimon. In October 2005, the Company announced that it acquired the exclusive U.S. rights to market and sell two topical formulations of diclofenac, a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Paul Sekhri, President and CEO of Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, commented, “We are extremely enthusiastic about developing Simulect® for the treatment of IBD, a chronic and potentially severe disease for which new treatment options are clearly needed. We hope that Simulect® can significantly improve the quality of life for IBD patients and reduce complications of the disease such as the need for colectomy. Based upon the promising results from an early proof-of-concept study, we will move expeditiously to advance this product into Phase 2b studies.”

About Cerimon Pharmaceuticals

Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing innovative therapeutics to patients with substantial, unmet medical needs. Headquartered in South San Francisco, Cerimon is engaged in the development and commercialization of therapeutic products for the specialist physician markets in autoimmune disease, inflammation, and pain. The Company employs a novel corporate strategy of in-licensing late-stage or marketed drugs to reduce the development and regulatory risk, decrease time to market, and expand the commercial potential of known drugs.

Cerimon's lead products are Simulect® (basiliximab), a monoclonal antibody, which is being advanced towards Phase 2b studies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, and diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is in development for the treatment of mild to moderate chronic pain due to arthritis. In October 2005, Cerimon completed a Series A financing of $70M with MPM Capital, Nomura Phase4 Ventures, and OrbiMed Advisors.