Exhibit 99.1

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Contact:
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Mark R. Vincent
Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
mvincent@curagen.com
1-888-GENOMICS
www.curagen.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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         CuraGen Establishes Pharmacogenomics Collaboration with Pfizer

      Companies to Apply Predictive Toxicogenomics and Drug Pathway Mapping
                                  Technologies

New Haven, CT, USA - January 7, 2003 - CuraGen Corporation (NASDAQ: CRGN), a
genomics-based pharmaceutical company, today announced that CuraGen and Pfizer,
Inc. (NYSE: PFE) scientists are working together to evaluate compounds under
consideration at Pfizer.

CuraGen scientists will apply the Company's Predictive Toxicogenomics Screen(TM)
(PTS) and protein pathway mapping technologies to gain a better understanding of
the mechanisms that enable drugs to effectively treat certain diseases.
CuraGen's PTS is applicable in early drug development to evaluate very small
quantities of compounds prior to expensive optimization. Scientists hope to use
this information to rank-order compounds by their predicted safety profiles,
prioritize, and then select the most promising compounds for further
development.

CuraGen's protein pathway mapping technologies can be applied during the later
stages of drug development to identify protein pathways associated with drug
activity and efficacy. By elucidating these pathways, scientists are able to
identify entire families of genes and proteins and evaluate their responses to a
specific drug compound. By identifying entire drug pathways, scientists may be
able to identify alternative drug targets that may work more appropriately for
developing better, safer, and more efficacious drugs.

"Through the application of integrated genomic and proteomic technologies,
scientists are able to take a systems biology approach to obtain a more
comprehensive understanding of how genes and proteins interact in combination
with a specific drug compound. By working closely with Pfizer scientists, we
believe that we can identify entire pathways related to drug activity well in
advance of clinical trials, thereby enabling the development of more cost
effective treatments," stated Christopher K. McLeod, Executive Vice President
for CuraGen Corporation.

CuraGen Corporation has been a pioneer in the field of pharmacogenomics, which
includes the study of how drugs work, why drugs fail, and which characteristics
are indicative of drug toxicity. CuraGen's expertise stems from pharmacogenomic
research conducted with many of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies in
prioritizing portions of their drug pipelines.

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CuraGen Corporation (NASDAQ: CRGN) is a genomics-based pharmaceutical company.
CuraGen's integrated, functional genomic technologies and Internet-based
bioinformatic systems are designed to generate comprehensive information about
genes, human genetic variations, gene expression, protein interactions, protein
pathways, and potential drugs that affect these pathways. The Company is
applying its industrialized genomic technologies, informatics, and validation
technologies to develop protein, antibody, and small molecule therapeutics to
treat obesity and diabetes, cancer, inflammatory diseases, and central nervous
system (CNS) disorders. CuraGen is headquartered in New Haven, CT and additional
information is available at www.curagen.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements including statements
about the ability of scientists to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of
how genes and proteins interact in combination with a specific drug compound, as
well as their ability to identify entire pathways related to drug activity well
in advance of clinical trials, thereby enabling the development of more cost
effective treatments. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements. CuraGen cautions investors that there can be no
assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially
from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result
of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: CuraGen's
expectation that it will incur operating losses in the near future, the early
stage of development of CuraGen's products and technologies, uncertainties
related to preclinical and clinical testing and trials, uncertainties and
adverse results relating to CuraGen's ability to obtain regulatory approval for
its products in development, uncertainties surrounding the availability of
additional funding, CuraGen's reliance on research collaborations and strategic
alliances, the actions of competitors, the development of competing
technologies, CuraGen's ability to protect its patents and proprietary rights,
patent infringement actions and uncertainties relating to commercialization
rights. Please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2001 for a description of these risks. We disclaim any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

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