Cypros Pharmaceutical receives notice of allowance on patent covering the use of aminoglycosides as neuroprotective agents.

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 1997--Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ:CYPR) Wednesday announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on its patent application covering the use of a class of drugs called aminoglycosides as neuroprotective agents.

While aminoglycosides are currently used as antibiotics, the company has demonstrated that certain members of this drug class can protect brain tissue in ischemic scenarios that mimic those encountered in stroke and head injury patients.

Company scientists have shown that certain aminoglycoside antibiotics presynaptically block calcium channels found on nerve cells in the brain. These calcium channels regulate the release of glutamate in the brain; excess glutamate kills nerve cells in the brain during and after stroke.

Extensive development efforts by other companies have focused on glutamate receptor blockers for stroke treatment; however, these agents have substantial toxicity, and several have failed in clinical trials. The Cypros agents covered by this patent application inhibit the release of glutamate pre-synaptically and are not aimed at blocking glutamate receptors.

Commenting on the patent, Paul Marangos, chief executive officer, stated: "Our scientists are developing a number of neuronal calcium channel blockers with new patents currently being filed. The current patent, when issued, will enhance our ability to develop specific aminoglycosides for these exciting new indications.

"We are pleased to have been the first to predict and demonstrate the neuroprotective properties of these well-tolerated drugs and will be exploring their development in this new therapeutic arena."

Cypros Pharmaceutical is engaged in the development and marketing of drug products for the hospital market. The company is pursuing a diversified strategy of marketing approved drugs and developing small molecule therapeutics that protect cells from ischemic injury.

The company currently has three products on the market: Glofil, Inulin and Ethamolin. The company's CPC-111 and CPC-211 drugs are currently in Phase II clinical trials for a variety of cardiovascular and neurological disorders.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to certain factors that 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, 1996 and the Risk Factors section of the company's Registration Statement No. 333-23085.

For more information about the company, investors are also encouraged to visit the company's home page at www.cypros.com .

CONTACT: Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp., Carlsbad

David W. Nassif, 760/929-9500

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