Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Expands Development Collaborations for DepoFoam(R)

SAN DIEGO, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced a collaboration with Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the development of sustained release injectable products based on the DepoFoam(R) technology platform from Pacira. The companies will work together to enhance the dosing profile for compounds within Amylin's early research and development pipeline. The goal of the collaboration is to develop multiple products based on sustained release, subcutaneous injection.

Dave Stack, President and CEO of Pacira stated, "In addition to our own lead development candidate, DepoBupivacaine(TM), we believe that delivery of Amylin's compounds using the DepoFoam(R) technology would create significant value for patient care, our partners, and Pacira."

"Pacira's DepoFoam(R) technology is an attractive delivery system and Amylin is excited to apply this technology to our peptide and protein therapeutics platform," said Christopher Rhodes, Ph.D., Executive Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences of Amylin. "This collaboration fits well with Amylin's research and development activities, which leverage our expertise in metabolism to develop potential therapies for diabetes and obesity."

Terms of the agreement are not disclosed at this time.

About Pacira

Pacira is an acute care specialty pharmaceutical company with a primary focus on developing Products which satisfy the needs of our customers in the institutional marketplace. The Company utilizes DepoFoam(R) delivery technology to cost-effectively improve patient care through enhanced dosing and administration profiles. Currently, the Company is developing DepoBupivacaine(TM) in phase III clinical studies for postsurgical pain. Revenues are generated from two approved products which are marketed by partners: DepoCyt(R) for lymphomatous meningitis and DepoDur(R) for post- surgical pain. Additional information about Pacira is available at http://www.pacira.com/.

This press release contains forward looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from the forward looking statements discussed in this press release. These forward looking statements include risks and uncertainties that current or future collaboration will prove to be commercially successful.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CONTACT: Taunia Markvicka, +1-908-930-4995, for Pacira Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.

Web site: http://www.pacira.com/

2008-04-15 19:25:59 0336846 PRNEWSWIRE