Cypros Pharmaceutical reports 40 percent sales growth of Glofil and expansion of commercial activities.

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 11, 1996--Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp. (NASDAQ:CYPR) Thursday announced a 40 percent increase in the sales of Glofil since its acquisition by the company in August 1995.

Glofil is an injectable drug used to provide accurate measurement of kidney function (GFR) in patients with renal disease. The company also announced the opening of its new drug distribution center to support growth in commercial operations.

Renal disease afflicts over 2 million Americans, with associated health-care costs exceeding $12 billion annually. Accurate measurement of renal function is increasingly important as renal disorders become more treatable.

Continued growth of Glofil sales over the next three to four years is anticipated due to this greater need for more accurate monitoring of kidney function and the multifaceted promotional efforts being made by the company.

The company has taken several steps to expand its commercial activities, including expansion of field sales representation, establishment of regional GFR centers, the previously announced marketing partnership, completion of a licensed pharmaceutical drug distribution center at its new headquarters in Carlsbad and pursuit of additional product acquisitions.

"Our rapidly growing commercial program reflects the philosophy of maximizing profit potential of acquired products, a key source of funding for the development of our proprietary drug candidates, CPC-111 and CPC-211," said Stephen Eisold, the company's recently appointed chief operating officer.

"With the current success of our promotional efforts regarding Glofil and our increased infrastructure, we are now in a more favorable position to acquire additional growth opportunities and further build our revenue stream."

Cypros is a Carlsbad-based company with a dual business strategy of marketing acquired drugs and developing hospital-based drugs which are used in critical- or acute-care scenarios. The company is pursuing multiple cytoprotective drug development strategies including agents which augment anaerobic metabolism (CPC-111 and CPC-211), neuronal calcium channel antagonists, glial chloride channel blockers and adenosine metabolism inhibitors.

The company has two drugs in clinical trials: CPC-111 in multiple phase II clinical trials (in congestive heart failure, coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, sickle cell anemia crisis and angioplasty) and CPC-211 in phase II clinical trials for ischemic stroke and traumatic head injury.

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 progress of the company's research and development programs, the company's ability to successfully enter into collaborations with third parties, the company's ability to enter into and progress in clinical trials, the ability of the company to establish development and commercialization relationships, the cost of manufacturing and those other risks discussed in the sections titled Licenses, Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing, Competition, Government Regulation, and Patents and Proprietary Rights in the company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1995, and the Risk Factors section of the company's Registration Statement No. 33-80645.

CONTACT: Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp., Carlsbad

David W. Nassif, 619/929-9500