SUNESIS PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF COLLABORATION WITH JOHNSON & JOHNSON PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Sunesis Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has extended its research collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development through the end of 2005. Initiated in May 2002, the collaboration is focused on the discovery of small molecule enzyme inhibitors targeting Cathepsin S, an enzyme involved in the activation of T-cells. Inhibiting inappropriate activation of T-cells may lead to novel treatments of certain inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

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