Trimeris Begins Patient Selection and Dosing in T1249 Phase I Trial Second Fusion Inhibitor Enters Clinic

Trimeris Begins Patient Selection and Dosing in T1249 Phase I Trial Second Fusion Inhibitor Enters Clinic

Business Wire - July 1, 1999

DURHAM, N.C.--(BW HealthWire)--July 1, 1999--Trimeris, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMS) announced today that patient selection and dosing have begun in its T1249-101 Phase I clinical trial for T1249, the second of a new class of anti-HIV drugs that block the entry of the virus into cells. This dose escalation trial is designed to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of T1249.

Three different daily doses of T1249 will be administered as monotherapy for 14 days to HIV-infected adults by once or twice daily subcutaneous injection. T1249-101 will enroll up to 60 HIV-infected individuals at up to eight sites in the United States. At entry these patients will have received no other anti-HIV drugs for at least two weeks prior to entering the study.

"The laboratory and animal results of T1249 are impressive, we look forward to analyzing our first human results," stated Dr. Dani P. Bolognesi, Chief Executive Officer of Trimeris. "We are eager to expand and further develop this exciting new class of antiviral agents."

The company also announced that the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in connection with the company's recent public offering, resulting in additional proceeds to the company of $4.1 million.

Trimeris is a development stage, biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents that block viral infection by inhibiting viral fusion with host cells. The Company's lead product candidate, T20, which inhibits fusion of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with host cells, is currently in Phase II clinical trials and has received fast track designation from the FDA. The Company's second product candidate, T1249, which also inhibits HIV fusion, has received fast track designation from the FDA and is in a Phase I clinical trial.

Note: Except for any historical information presented herein, matters presented in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The results of the company's previous clinical trials are not necessarily indicative of future clinical trials, and future results could differ materially from the results presented herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the "Risk Factors" section included in the Company's Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1999 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 1999 and the company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 1999.

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CONTACT: Trimeris, Inc., Durham Matthew A. Megaro, 919/419-6050 President and Chief Financial Officer or Burns McClellan, Inc., New York Jonathan M. Nugent (investors) or Justin Jackson (media) 212/213-0006
990701
BW990701

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