The Power to Deliver; OptiNose Presents New Clinical Data for Breath Actuated Powder and Liquid Devices at San Diego Industry Conference.

SAN DIEGO -- Nasal drug delivery specialist OptiNose AS today presented new data on its breath-actuated powder and liquid drug delivery devices at Drug Delivery 2006. Deposition data for the breath-actuated powder delivery device in 9 volunteers show a statistically significant increase (400%) in drug deposition in the upper posterior segment (housing the sinus openings and olfactory region) compared to traditional nasal spray pumps. These results reinforce findings recently published in the leading US scientific journal, The Laryngoscope, comparing OptiNose's multi-dose, breath-actuated liquid device and a traditional nasal spray pump. Deposition beyond the nasal valve is essential for improved treatment of common diseases like rhinitis, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps. The ability to deliver drug to the upper posterior part of the nose also enables the OptiNose devices to be used for targeted nose-to-brain delivery of CNS compounds for treatment of neurological diseases. E[acute accent]Helena K. Djupesland, OptiNose's CEO is pleased by the new data. "We have known for several years that our technology can dramatically improve the delivery of liquid aerosols to the posterior two thirds of the nose. We have heard from the market the importance of delivering powders to the same region, particularly for proteins and peptides. Demonstrating the same superior delivery characteristics for powders as we have previously published for liquids enables us to access these additional opportunities. We plan to initiate clinical trials of drug device combination products using our injection-moulded powder and liquid devices in the second half of 2006." E[acute accent]Although OptiNose is focussed on topical, and "nose-to-brain" drug delivery, the conference also heard about another recent study, in the Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, which demonstrated the utility of OptiNose's liquid device for intranasal vaccine delivery. The immune response was significantly improved compared to delivery with traditional spray pumps with the added advantage of self-administration.

E[acute accent]www.optinose.no

E[acute accent]Notes to editors

E[acute accent]OptiNose AS is an advanced nasal drug delivery company developing a portfolio of drug delivery devices and drug device combination products with superior clinical performance. OptiNose's breath-actuated intranasal bi-directional technology is highly versatile and suitable for delivery of both liquid and powder formulations, with either topical or systemic action. The technology can also target the olfactory bulb region for delivery to the CNS. E[acute accent]OptiNose was founded in October 2000 by Dr Per G. Djupesland, an acknowledged expert in the field and currently CSO in OptiNose. Funding has been provided through grants from the Norwegian Industrial and Regional Development Fund, the Norwegian Research Council, CRAFT-EU, InSpire AS, a Norwegian venture capital group, Andromeda-Fund BV, a part of the Dutch private equity investment Entrepreneurs Fund and WFD Ventures LLC, a US venture capital group.

E[acute accent]Breath Actuated Device Improves Delivery to Target Sites Beyond the Nasal Valve, Laryngoscope, March 2006, 116(3):466-72. Djupesland PG, Skretting A, Windern M, Holand T

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