Court Dismisses Cygnus Lawsuit Against ALZA.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 18, 1995--ALZA Corporation (NYSE:AZA) today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted ALZA's motion to dismiss the lawsuit that Cygnus Therapeutic Systems brought against ALZA in January 1994 seeking a declaration of unenforceability and invalidity of an ALZA patent relating to transdermal administration of fentanyl. The court also dismissed Cygnus' claims that alleged ALZA has violated U.S. antitrust laws.

"As we stated when this action was filed, this suit has no merit, and ALZA is pleased that the court has dismissed the claims," said Dr. Ernest Mario, co-chairman and chief executive officer of ALZA.

The patent involved in the suit relates to the ALZA-developed Duragesicr fentanyl transdermal system, which was cleared for marketing in the U.S. in 1990 for the treatment of severe chronic pain in patients requiring opioid analgesia. ALZA co-promotes the product in the U.S. with Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, which has worldwide marketing rights to the product.

ALZA Corporation is a leading drug delivery systems company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of therapeutic systems that improve the medical and economic value of drugs. ALZA's therapeutic systems provide rate-controlled administration of medication.

CONTACT: ALZA Corporation

Bonnie J. Burdett, 415-494-5222