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Repligen (RGEN) Receives Second Research Grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association

Repligen Receives Second Research Grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association to Support Friedreich’s Ataxia Preclinical Development Program

WALTHAM, Mass., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Repligen Corporation (Nasdaq: RGEN) today announced that the Company has received $731,000 in research funding to support the ongoing development of new treatments for Friedreich’s ataxia from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). This grant will support the completion of preclinical GLP toxicology testing and GMP manufacture of a drug candidate for human clinical trials. Support from the MDA not only provides important funding for Repligen’s research but it also provides access to a global network of scientists, physicians and patients. This is the second research grant that Repligen has received from the MDA to support its Friedreich’s ataxia program.

“We would like to thank the Muscular Dystrophy Association for their continued support of our Friedreich’s ataxia program,” stated Walter C. Herlihy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Repligen Corporation. “Funding from the MDA has allowed us to accelerate the development of a treatment that has the potential to be the first drug to modify the course of this very debilitating disease.”

Friedreich’s ataxia is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a single gene defect that results in inadequate production of the protein frataxin. Low levels of frataxin lead to degeneration of both the nerves controlling muscle movements in the arms and legs and the nerve tissue in the spinal cord. Preclinical studies have shown that specific HDAC inhibitors increase production of the protein frataxin which may have the potential to arrest disease progression in patients with Friedreich’s ataxia. A potential clinical candidate synthesized by Repligen is being characterized in preclinical models to fully assess its pharmacologic, toxicologic and pharmacodynamic profile.

About the Muscular Dystrophy Association

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. Friedreich’s ataxia is one of the diseases covered by MDA. For more information, go to www.mda.org.

About Repligen Corporation

Repligen Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics for neurological disorders. In addition, we are the world’s leading supplier of recombinant Protein A, the sales of which partially fund the advancement of our development pipeline while supporting our financial stability. Repligen’s corporate headquarters are located at 41 Seyon Street, Building #1, Suite 100, Waltham, MA 02453. Additional information may be requested from www.repligen.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding current or future financial performance and position, management’s strategy, plans and objectives for future operations, plans and objectives for product development, plans and objectives for present and future clinical trials and results of such trials, plans and objectives for regulatory approval, litigation, intellectual property, product development, manufacturing plans and performance such as the anticipated growth in the monoclonal antibody market and our other target markets and projected growth in product sales, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation, risks associated with: the success of current and future collaborative relationships, the market acceptance of our products, our ability to compete with larger, better financed pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, new approaches to the treatment of our targeted diseases, our expectation of incurring continued losses, our uncertainty of product revenues and profits, our ability to generate future revenues, our ability to raise additional capital to continue our drug development programs, the success of our clinical trials, our ability to develop and commercialize products, our ability to obtain required regulatory approvals, our compliance with all Food and Drug Administration regulations, our ability to obtain, maintain and protect intellectual property rights for our products, the risk of litigation regarding our intellectual property rights, our limited sales and manufacturing capabilities, our dependence on third-party manufacturers and value added resellers, our ability to hire and retain skilled personnel, our volatile stock price, and other risks detailed in Repligen’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Repligen assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 Uncategorized