Cerimon Pharmaceuticals Raises $70 Million in Series A Financing

Proceeds to Fund Clinical Development and Expansion of Pipeline Through Partnerships and Product Acquisitions

October 26, 2005

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—Cerimon Pharmaceuticals announced today the completion of a $70 million Series A financing, which will be used to expand the Company's product pipeline through innovative partnering transactions and product acquisitions. The financing was led by MPM Capital, together with Nomura Phase4 Ventures and OrbiMed Advisors.

Cerimon also announced separately today that it has acquired 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 proud to announce the closing of this important financing, which ranks as one of the largest recent Series A investments in this industry. Cerimon now has a top-tier group of investors who will work closely with the Company in advancing our strategic plan." Dr. Ansbert Gadicke, of MPM, stated, "We founded the Company with Paul Sekhri to leverage our innovative partnering strategies with the pharmaceutical industry. The financing will allow the acquisition of valuable assets, which will bring Cerimon closer to becoming a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with access to the public capital markets in the short to medium term."

As part of the Series A financing, Denise Pollard-Knight, Head of Nomura Phase4 Ventures, an affiliate of Nomura International plc, Robert Adelman, M.D., Principal, OrbiMed Advisors, and Paul Hastings, former president and CEO of QLT, Inc., have joined Cerimon's Board of Directors. The Cerimon Board of Directors also includes Paul Sekhri, Ansbert Gadicke, M.D., Founding General Partner of MPM Capital, and Vaughn Kailian, Chairman of the Board, General Partner of MPM Capital and former CEO of COR Therapeutics.

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.