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Marillion Pharmaceuticals and Cytokine PharmaSciences Announce License Agreement for Xerostomia Treatment



    Marillion Pharmaceuticals Inc and Cytokine PharmaSciences Inc
    (CPSI) announced today that the two companies have entered into a
    license agreement granting Marillion exclusive worldwide rights to
    develop and commercialize CPSI´s Pilobuc(TM) buccal insert for the
    treatment of xerostomia.

    Xerostomia, meaning dry mouth, is characterized by the chronic
    loss of salivary gland function and has been associated with various
    autoimmune diseases (e.g. Sjogren´s syndrome), treatment with numerous
    medications and radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Xerostomia is
    a debilitating condition that may lead to difficulty speaking,
    swallowing and alteration in taste and is accompanied by halitosis and
    a significant increase in the incidence of oral infections, including
    candida and severe dental caries.

    "The most common therapy for xerostomia is a tablet form of
    pilocarpine, which requires frequent oral dosing due to the short
    serum half-life of the active drug and causes dose limiting side
    effects in many patients," commented Dr. Zahed Subhan, Chief Executive
    Officer, Marillion Pharmaceuticals. "Pilobuc is a novel, proprietary,
    buccal formulation of pilocarpine shown in clinical trials to
    effectively and conveniently deliver the drug with reduced side
    effects compared to other routes of administration. Pilobuc has the
    potential to be a significant product in the xerostomia market,
    currently estimated to be worth more than $350 million worldwide,"
    added Dr Subhan.

    CPSI´s Pilobuc insert is based on a hydrogel polymer technology
    that delivers drugs to the buccal mucosa. The buccal insert allows
    controlled and sustained release over a period of several hours,
    relieving some of the problems associated with short term activities
    of many drugs. Also, absorption through the oral mucosa minimizes
    swallowing of the drug and thereby avoids many unpleasant side effects
    associated with absorption in the gut. Pilobuc allows for the
    sustained buccal delivery of pilocarpine while reducing the side
    effects associated with oral systemic treatments.

    "We believe Marillion is a strong partner for Pilobuc based on the
    company´s extensive background and focus on oncology drug
    development," commented Vidal de la Cruz, Ph.D, Vice President,
    Business Development, CPSI. "As Cytokine PharmaSciences continues to
    progress its pipeline of products in women´s health, inflammation and
    cancer, we will look for key strategic alliances, such as this
    licensing agreement with Marillion, to maximize the value of our
    clinical and preclinical stage assets."

    About Marillion Pharmaceuticals

    Marillion Pharmaceuticals is an emerging clinical-stage
    pharmaceuticals company dedicated to the development and
    commercialization of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancers
    and for supportive care in oncology. Marillion´s product pipeline
    includes MN-201, the first synthetic vitamin D5 receptor ligand to be
    advanced into clinical development for a variety of cancers including
    breast, prostate and colon cancers. Marillion was founded in 2005
    following seed funding from BioAdvance. Series A funding was received
    from APIDC/Venture East. Visit www.marillionpharma.com for more
    information.

    About Cytokine PharmaSciences

    Cytokine PharmaSciences is a biopharmaceutical company located in
    King of Prussia (near Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. The company
    developed and manufactures Cervidil(R)/Propess(R), used in the
    obstetrics field for cervical ripening in the induction of labor. CPSI
    is focused on the use of polymers for the delivery of drugs to the
    vagina or buccal cavity, as well as the development of novel targets
    and therapeutic agents for the treatment of inflammation, autoimmune
    diseases and cancer. For more information, visit
    www.cytokinepharmasciences.com.