Cypros Pharmaceutical Receives Notice of Allowance on U.S. Patent for Cordox Use in Bypass Surgery Patients.

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 13, 1999--

Patent Also Covers Combination Use of Cordox(TM) and Ceresine(TM)

Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation (AMEX:CYP) announced today receipt of a notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on a patent covering the use of its cardioprotective drug Cordox(TM) for the pre-treatment of all bypass surgery patients, including coronary artery bypass grafting procedures, valve repair and replacement and a variety of other open heart surgeries.

This is the third patent received by the company in the past several months for the use of Cordox(TM) in this indication and completes a portfolio of cases to establish coverage for the treatment of the entire range of bypass surgery procedures by Cordox(TM).

The new patent also claimed the combined use of Cordox(TM) with the company's other cytoprotective drug, Ceresine(TM). Ceresine(TM) reduces lactic acid accumulation in ischemic tissues, a problem encountered in patients undergoing bypass surgery. This represents the first proprietary position on the combined use of the company's two cytoprotective drugs in any indication. The complementary mechanisms of Cordox(TM) and Ceresine(TM) action on the potentiation of ischemic tissue energetics suggest that this drug combination may have substantial cytoprotective benefits.

"We are pleased that the patent office has granted allowance on all three of our Cordox(TM) bypass surgery patents," said Paul J. Marangos, chairman and chief executive officer of Cypros. "Bypass surgery is a very large unmet medical need with no drug currently approved to reduce the complications associated with the procedure. The claims on combined use of Cordox(TM) and Ceresine(TM) could prove especially valuable given the complementary benefits provided by these agents on ischemic tissue."

Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation is engaged in the development and marketing of drug products for the hospital market. The company employs a diversified strategy of marketing approved drugs and developing small molecule therapeutics that protect cells from ischemic injury. The company's two cytoprotective drugs, Cordox(TM) and Ceresine(TM), are in development for a variety of ischemic indications including sickle cell anemia, coronary artery bypass grafting surgery and brain injury.

Visit the Cypros Pharmaceutical web site at http://www.cypros.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to certain factors, which may cause the Company's plans to differ. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998 and the Risk Factors section of the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-25661.