First-in-Class Drug Candidate from Deuterium Platform Has Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Fibrotic, and Anti-Oxidant Properties

March 29 , 2011 Lexington, MA –- Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced it has made significant progress advancing CTP-499, its novel anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-fibrotic agent for diabetic nephropathy and other forms of chronic kidney disease, into clinical development. Based on encouraging preclinical results and successful formulation assessment in healthy volunteers, Concert has initiated a Phase 1 single ascending dose study of CTP-499 in healthy volunteers. CTP-499, invented using Concert’s DCE Platform™ (deuterated chemical entity platform), is a potential first-in-class treatment for chronic kidney disease, a major and growing health problem.

“We are excited about the progress of CTP-499 and its potential to treat diabetic nephropathy and, more generally, chronic kidney disease,” said Roger Tung, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Concert Pharmaceuticals. “Chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease that has become a major medical concern associated with substantial health care costs running to tens of billions of dollars per year in the US. Preclinical evidence that CTP-499 may protect kidney function and slow disease progression is encouraging. We look forward to advancing CTP-499 in clinical testing to evaluate its benefits in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy and other forms of chronic kidney disease.”