Allergan and Dura Pharmaceuticals Enter Into Segment Alliance Agreement to Promote Multiple Products.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

IRVINE & SAN DIEGO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Feb. 23, 2000

Allergan (NYSE: AGN) and Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Dura) (Nasdaq NNM: DURA) announced today that they have entered into a multi-year, multi-product agreement to commercialize selected Allergan products in the U.S. primary care and respiratory segments. The companies will co-launch Alocril(TM) (nedocromil sodium ophthalmic solution 2%), Allergan's proprietary topical compound indicated for the treatment of itch associated with allergic conjunctivitis, by March of this year. Allergan will promote Alocril(TM) to ophthalmologists and Dura will promote the product to primary care practitioners and respiratory specialists. The agreement includes a joint structure to evaluate additional opportunities for Dura to promote specific development-stage products, once those products are approved, and a commitment to launch a second product to the same segments at a yet unspecified date.

"Allergan is very excited about this commercial alliance with Dura Pharmaceuticals. Dura has one of the most skillful and highly motivated sales forces in the United States," said David E.I. Pyott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allergan. "Dura's experience and their related success in the primary care and respiratory segments make them an ideal partner to co-launch Alocril(TM) with us during the peak of the spring allergy season. These segments are currently responsible for approximately 35% of all prescriptions generated in the rapidly growing ocular allergy market," continued Mr. Pyott. "This transaction is another in a series of similar transactions designed to create incremental value by effectively bringing Allergan products to important physician audiences outside of our core sales and marketing focus in ophthalmology."

"Dura is extremely pleased to collaborate with Allergan, the world leader in eye care research and development, and we look forward to working closely with them to build a significant new franchise in the primary care and respiratory segments," said Cam L. Garner, Dura's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "By agreeing to launch Allergan's products into these segments, the companies aim to establish a strong presence in a rapidly growing market. This alliance allows Allergan's premier products to enjoy increased sales over their current audiences, while allowing us to leverage our field-based sales force and our expertise in the allergy market. In the longer term, we look forward to launching the second product and to evaluating additional promotional opportunities with Allergan. We are very excited about this alliance and regard it as fully consistent with our enduring goal of identifying strong strategic matches and collaborating with industry-leading companies."

Allergan received United States Food and Drug Administration approval for the marketing of Alocril(TM) (nedocromil sodium ophthalmic solution 2%) in December 1999. Clinical studies demonstrated that Alocril(TM) provides effective treatment for itch due to allergic conjunctivitis. Alocril(TM) has been shown to inhibit mediator release from mast cells as well as decreasing chemotaxis and decreasing activation of other cell types. In addition, the drug's safety profile allows it to be used on children three years and older.

Allergan, Inc. headquartered in Irvine, California, is a technology-driven, global health care company providing eye care and specialty pharmaceutical products worldwide. Allergan develops and commercializes products in the eye care pharmaceutical, ophthalmic surgical device, over-the-counter contact lens care, movement disorder, and dermatological markets that deliver value to our customers, satisfy unmet medical needs and improve patients' lives.

Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a San Diego based developer and marketer of prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of allergies, asthma, pneumonia and related respiratory conditions. Dura focuses on the U.S. respiratory market because of its size and growth opportunities through two major strategies: (1) acquiring prescription pharmaceuticals and/or businesses developing or marketing such pharmaceuticals to support its marketing presence in high-prescribing physicians' offices and/or the hospital market, and (2) developing Spiros(R), a pulmonary drug delivery system for both topical and systemic delivery of medications.

Any of the above statements that refer to Allergan's estimated or anticipated future results or product performance are forward-looking and reflect the Company's current analysis of existing trends and information. Actual results may differ from current expectations based on a number of factors affecting Allergan's businesses, including new product performance, competitive conditions and products, and changing market conditions, and the successful execution of the alliance agreement between Allergan and Dura. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from expectations reflected in this release. As a result, the reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Additional information concerning these factors can be found in press releases as well as in Allergan's public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the discussion under the heading "Certain Factors and Trends Affecting Business" in Allergan's 1998 Form 10-K. These filings are available publicly and upon request from Allergan's Investor Relations Department: 714-246-4636 or on the internet at http://www.allergan.com.

Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release regarding Dura or its business may contain forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including the effectiveness of our sales forces in promoting our products, difficulties we may encounter in launching new products, our dependence on third parties for manufacturing and development, the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical industry, and other risks detailed from time to time in Dura's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. Any forward-looking statements represent Dura's judgment as of the date of this release. Dura disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Further information about Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. can be found at http://www.durapharm.com.