Adolor Corporation Initiates Phase 1 Multi-Dose Study of Novel Delta Opioid Agonist for the Management of Pain.

EXTON, Pa. -- Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq:ADLR) announced today that it has initiated a multi-dose Phase 1 clinical trial of ADL5859, a novel, orally bioavailable Delta opioid receptor agonist. The Phase 1 study is designed to investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ADL5859 in healthy volunteers following twice a day dosing for seven days. This study follows the recent completion of a single dose Phase 1 study that demonstrated that the compound was well absorbed following oral administration and was generally well tolerated. Completion of the multi-dose study is targeted for the third quarter of this year.

"We are pleased to now begin the multi-dose study of ADL5859 following the encouraging results demonstrated by our single dose Phase 1 study," said James Barrett, Ph.D., senior vice president, chief scientific officer and president, research of Adolor Corporation. "We are excited about the potential role of our Delta compounds in pain management as well as in other therapeutic indications and are fortunate to be at the forefront of this area of research."

About the Delta Receptor Program

One of three opioid receptors, the Delta receptor has potential utility in a variety of indications, including the modulation of pain. Through a proprietary research platform based on cloned, human opioid receptors, Adolor has identified a series of novel, orally active Delta agonists - compounds that selectively stimulate the Delta opioid receptor. Delta compounds may have a number of potential advantages, including an improved side effect profile, as compared to mu opioid receptor agonists. On the basis of preclinical evaluation in animal models of human conditions, one might expect a Delta agonist to show effect in inflammatory pain, among other pain conditions. In addition, Delta agonists are thought to modulate other biological processes that may manifest themselves in disease states or conditions such as overactive bladder and depression.

Adolor's lead Delta candidate, ADL5859, has already demonstrated activity in several preclinical studies and is currently in Phase 1 Clinical testing. A second compound, ADL5747 is in preclinical development with an investigational new drug application (IND) targeted for year end. There are currently no selective Delta agonists approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.

About Adolor Corporation

Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq:ADLR) is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel prescription pain management products. Entereg[R] (alvimopan) is Adolor's lead product candidate under development for the management of the gastrointestinal side effects associated with opioid use. Adolor and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are collaborating in the worldwide development and commercialization of Entereg[R] in multiple indications. Adolor also has a number of discovery research programs focused on the identification of novel compounds for the treatment of pain. By applying its knowledge and expertise in pain management, along with ingenuity, Adolor Corporation is seeking to make a positive difference for patients, caregivers and the medical community. For more information, visit www.adolor.com.

This release, and oral statements made with respect to information contained in this release, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include those which express plan, anticipation, intent, contingency, goals, targets or future development and/or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, known and unknown, which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Such known risks and uncertainties relate to, among other factors: the risk that our Delta product candidates ADL5859 and ADL5747 will show adverse safety findings that make them unsuitable for further development; the risk that our Delta product candidates do not show utility in treating pain or any other clinical indications; the costs, delays and uncertainties inherent in scientific research, drug development, clinical trials and the regulatory approval process; Adolor's history of operating losses since inception and its need for additional funds to operate its business; Adolor's reliance on its collaborators, including GlaxoSmithKline in connection with the development and commercialization of Entereg[R]; market acceptance of Adolor's products, if regulatory approval is achieved; product liability claims; competition; and securities litigation.

Further information about these and other relevant risks and uncertainties may be found in Adolor's Reports on Form 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Adolor urges you to carefully review and consider the disclosures found in its filings which are available in the SEC EDGAR database at http://www.sec.gov and from Adolor at http://www.adolor.com. Given the uncertainties affecting pharmaceutical companies in the development stage, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, any of which may turn out to be wrong due to inaccurate assumptions, unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors. Adolor undertakes no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) publicly update or revise the statements made herein or the risk factors that may relate thereto whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.