SAN DIEGO, May 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Trega Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRGA)
(formerly Houghten Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) today announced that it has entered
into a research collaboration with Chiroscience Group, plc, to develop
combinatorial libraries targeted at inhibiting cell adhesion molecules
involved in a variety of diseases such as inflammation and cancer.
    This collaboration stems from the discovery of proprietary non-
carbohydrate based selectin inhibitors made by a team of scientists from
Chiroscience and the University of York, UK.  The agreement brings together
both companies' drug design and combinatorial chemistry skills in a effort to
create unique libraries of inhibitors of selectin and other members of the
lectin gene family.
    Chiroscience's knowledge of the biology of the selectin family will be
combined with Trega's expertise in high throughput solid phase combinatorial
chemistry to generate targeted small molecule libraries.  These libraries,
together with associated structure/activity relationship data, will be the
basis for seeking licensing transactions with third party pharmaceutical
companies.  Proceeds from these transactions will be shared between Trega and
Chiroscience.
    "This collaboration will generate directed combinatorial libraries focused
on new biological targets in the hope of creating value for the pharmaceutical
industry.  This combination of drug design and small molecule combinatorial
chemistry is a creative approach to designing specific chemistry for a gene
family of targets that we believe will be attractive to pharmaceutical
partners," said Robert S. Whitehead, president and chief executive officer of
Trega.
    "If successful, this collaboration will result in effective and novel cell
adhesion inhibitors, providing an alternative treatment approach to
inflammation and related disease," said John Padfield, chief executive officer
of Chiroscience.
    Trega Biosciences is a drug discovery company, utilizing combinatorial
chemistry and other technologies to pursue the discovery of novel, small-
molecule drug therapies.  The Company leverages its technology platform by
entering into pharmaceutical alliances, enabling partners to access Trega's
technologies in exchange for licensing fees and potential milestone payments
and royalties, or by establishing joint-discovery alliances with biotechnology
companies.  Trega also uses its drug discovery technologies in its internal
development programs.  HP 228, the Company's lead compound, is in Phase II
trials for the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.
    Chiroscience is an emerging pharmaceutical company operating in the UK and
USA, which uses its diverse technology platform to discover and develop novel
medicines for improved healthcare.  The Group has two principal activities.
Darwin Discovery is engaged in the discovery and development of innovative
drugs and related diagnostics which will form those medicines, through
research and development activities in Cambridge and Seattle, supported by
technical operation at the pilot plant facility in Stevenage.  ChiroTech
provides chiral technology services to customers within the pharmaceutical and
related industries and in support of Darwin Discovery's research and
development programs.
    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including whether any proposed product can be
successfully formulated, scaled-up, developed, and commercialized, whether
regulatory approvals can be obtained, the impact of competitive products and
pricing, whether any corporate collaborations or alliances will be successful,
and other risks detailed from time to time in Trega's Securities and Exchange
Commission filings.  These forward-looking statements represent Trega's
judgment as of the date of this release.  Actual results may differ materially
from those projected.  Trega disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.

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