Aegera Therapeutics Acquires Clinical Stage Oncology Company and Closes Concurrent Financing

08-07-2007

Aegera Therapeutics today announced the
acquisition of LymphoSign Inc. and its clinical oncology program LS104, a
small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor in Phase 1 clinical trials for acute
myelogenous leukemia and other myeloproliferative disorders. Approved by both
U.S. and European regulatory authorities, dosing of the first patient in the
initial Phase I clinical trial for LS104 was initiated in May 2007.
Concurrently with the closing of the transaction, several current shareholders
invested additional funds in Aegera's previously disclosed Series C financing.

"With the acquisition of the LS104 clinical program and concurrent
financing behind us, we are well-positioned to rapidly move our four internal
programs through clinical proof-of-concept studies and to seek additional
clinical and financial assets to build what I believe will become one of North
America's leading biotechnology companies, stated Dr. Michael Berendt,
Aegera's President & CEO. I am continually impressed by the quality of
Aegera's human resources across our entire research, development and
administrative organization, and I am very excited by Aegeras' prospects over
the next 18 months, as we begin to deliver Phase II data for multiple clinical
programs."

"This acquisition is a first step in an aggressive plan to build
significant shareholder value in the near term by adding to our clinical
development pipeline and positioning Aegera as an oncology development partner
of choice, declared Mr. James Rae, Chairman, Aegera's Board of Directors. By
the end of 2007, Aegera's development team will have successfully submitted
four Investigational New Drug Applications ("INDs") for novel compounds over
the last 36 months, and will initiate four Phase II clinical trials for its
lead oncology program - AEG35156 - an extremely impressive record for any
North American biotechnology company."

About LS104

LS104 is a novel small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of
therapeutically significant kinases including Jak2 and Bcr-Abl, being
developed for the treatment of leukemia and other haematological malignancies
and myeloproliferative disorders. In contrast to marketed kinase inhibitor
drugs, LS104 inhibits its targets in a non-ATP-competitive manner which may be
a significant advantage in treating cancers where resistance has arisen due to
mutations in the ATP binding site. LS104 preferentially induces apoptosis of
acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells
while being relatively non-toxic to normal bone marrow cells. The in vivo
efficacy of LS104 has been demonstrated in animal models of acute leukemia
resulting in increased survival and decreased blast counts in bone marrow.
Based on these positive findings, a US IND and a German CTA have been approved
and LS104 is currently being tested in a Phase I, open-label, dose-escalating
study alone and in combination with cytarabine in patients with haematological
malignancies and myeloproliferative disorders.

About Aegera Therapeutics Inc.

Aegera Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on
developing drugs that control apoptosis to address major unmet medical needs.
Multiple programs are in development to induce apoptosis to kill cancer cells
and to prevent apoptosis to save injured neuronal cells:

<<
- AEG35156 targets the key anti-apoptotic protein XIAP, and is currently
in multiple human clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors and
leukemia;
- AEG40826 is a potent small molecule that neutralizes the activity of
key Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs), and has begun definitive
IND-enabling preclinical toxicology studies as an anti-cancer
therapeutic;
- AEG33773 is a novel, orally bioavailable small molecule developed to
treat painful diabetic neuropathy; definitive IND-enabling preclinical
toxicology testing has been initiated.
>>

Website: www.aegera.com

For further information: Donald Olds, MSc, MBA, Chief Operating Officer
& CFO, Aegera Therapeutics Inc., (514) 288-5532 *295, donald.olds@aegera.com