Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, has made a substantial strategic equity investment in Acetylon. Celgene is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through gene and protein regulation. The company’s class-leading anti-cancer agents, Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Thalomid (thalidomide), are indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Celgene’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mark Alles, has been appointed as an observer to the Acetylon Board of Directors. Celgene does not hold license or marketing rights to Acetylon’s drug candidates under development. For more information about Celgene, visit the company’s Web site at www.celgene.com.

Reflecting a growing trend in the bio/pharmaceutical industry and for reasons of cost-efficiency, Acetylon conducts a substantial proportion of its research, development and manufacturing activities through partner companies based in the United States, Europe and Asia. It is partly because of the expertise of these partners that Acetylon has been successful in rapidly and efficiently advancing its HDAC6 cancer program into clinical trials.

Acetylon is interested in identifying a potential marketing partner for its HDAC6 inflammation / neurodegeneration program, which is currently at the stage of candidate selection of an oral compound to enter final preclinical safety and toxicology testing in advance of clinical trials.