San Diego, December 6, 2004 Data on tipifarnib (R115777), a compound under investigation by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. for the treatment of elderly patients with newly diagnosed poor-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML), were presented at the 46th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

AML is a rapidly progressing form of leukemia, which, in elderly patients, often results in death within a few months of diagnosis. Although the number of cases of AML is difficult to track on a global scale, based on available information, it is estimated that more than 60,000 new cases will be diagnosed worldwide in 2004. This includes nearly 12,000 new cases in the U.S. alone. Approximately 65 percent of new cases are expected to occur in adults age 65 or over. AML is expected to claim an estimated 8,870 lives in the U.S. in 2004.

Tipifarnib was discovered and developed at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development. Administered orally, tipifarnib is believed to inhibit farnesyl transferase, an enzyme required for activation of multiple tumor-growth pathways.

The ASH meeting featured presentations of tipifarnib datasets in AML and other areas of research, including the following abstracts:

Saturday, December 4

• Phase II study of tipifarnib in previously untreated, poor-risk, elderly AML patients. Abstract 874
• Identification of molecular predictors of response to tipifarnib. Abstract 861
• In-vitro cytotoxicity of tipifarnib in pediatric AML and acute lymphocytic leukemia samples. Abstract 1172

Monday, December 6

• Two abstracts on pharmacoeconomic data related to AML in the elderly. Abstracts 3142 and 3154

Publication only

• Fas antigen (CD 95) in clonogenic AML and in vitro sensitivity to tipifarnib. Abstract 4398

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6-Dec-2004

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