Genelabs Technologies Announces Presentation of Data on Non-Nucleoside HCV Polymerase...

Genelabs Technologies Announces Presentation of Data on Non-Nucleoside HCV Polymerase Inhibitor at 3rd International Workshop on Hepatitis C, Resistance and New Compounds

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Genelabs Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:GNLB) announced that a
presentation was made today at the 3rd International Workshop on
Hepatitis C, Resistance and New Compounds in Boston, Mass. on a
non-nucleoside hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor discovered
by Genelabs.

The oral presentation was given by Jill Bechtel, Ph.D. entitled,
"In vitro antiviral activity and resistance profile of GL60667
(NVP-LDI133), a potent non-nucleoside inhibitor of HCV NS5B
polymerase." The presentation contains studies performed by both
Genelabs and Novartis scientists in connection with a license and
research collaboration commenced in June 2006 between Novartis and
Genelabs, covering Genelabs' non-nucleoside HCV polymerase inhibitors.

GL60667 is one of a number of non-nucleoside HCV polymerase
inhibitors discovered by Genelabs. In the presentation, Dr. Bechtel
outlined the ability of GL60667 in vitro to reduce HCV RNA levels
after prolonged (20 day) treatment, described combination HCV
treatment studies with other HCV agents, and characterized the
resistance profile of GL60667.

The treatment of replicon cells with 0.56 uM and 2.8 uM GL60667
for 20 days resulted in a 4-5 log reduction in HCV viral RNA. In
addition, combination studies showed GL60667 was additive with
interferon (alpha) or ribavirin in inhibiting HCV replication, whereas
the combination with an NS3 protease inhibitor or a nucleoside NS5b
inhibitor was synergistic. Sequencing of the resistant clones isolated
from GL60667 selection revealed an NS5b mutation previously identified
as a site for resistance to earlier compounds in this series.
Interestingly, several clones had no mutations in the NS5b region.
Sequencing of the entire replicon revealed several amino acid changes
in NS3, NS4a, NS4b and NS5a. Transient assays using replicons bearing
these mutations demonstrated that an amino acid change in the NS3
helicase domain reduced the susceptibility to GL60667 by 6.7 fold.
Additional experiments demonstrated that this mutation only shifted
the potency of a select number of compounds in this series leading to
the identification of the region of the molecule responsible for the
resistance.

"The data presented today from both Genelabs and Novartis
scientists demonstrate potent antiviral activity for site 1
non-nucleoside HCV polymerase inhibitors alone or in combination with
other HCV agents and a favorable resistance profile," said Ronald C.
Griffith, Ph.D., Genelabs' Chief Scientific Officer. "This data
clearly support the further investigation of site 1 NNI inhibitors for
the future treatment of HCV infection."

About Genelabs Technologies

Genelabs is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery
and development of novel compounds for infectious diseases. In
addition to a late-stage vaccine candidate for hepatitis E virus
partnered with GlaxoSmithKline, the company is advancing multiple
partnered and proprietary compounds designed to selectively inhibit
replication of the hepatitis C virus. For more information, please
visit www.genelabs.com.

NOTE ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISKS:

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding
specific areas of further investigation for the treatment of HCV
infection. These forward-looking statements are based on Genelabs'
current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and risks that
could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements
made, including, without limitation, uncertainties and risks
associated with the discovery and preclinical development of
therapeutic compounds. Please see the information appearing in the
company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, under the captions "Risk Factors," "Business
Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" for more discussion regarding
these uncertainties and risks and other risks that may cause actual
results to differ from those included in the forward-looking
statements. Genelabs does not undertake any obligation to update these
forward-looking statements or risks to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of this release.

Genelabs Technologies, Inc.
Frederick Driscoll, 650-562-1477
Chief Financial Officer

Copyright Business Wire 2008