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EXHIBIT 99.1
CONTACT: Joyce Strand (Inhale) (650) 631-3138
Inhale Reinitiates Development of Inhaleable Form of Forteo with Lilly
SECOND PRE-CLINICAL COLLABORATION DISCONTINUED
SAN CARLOS, CALIF., SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 - Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq:INHL) announced today that the company has reinitiated a development
program with Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) for an inhaleable formulation of
Forteo-TM- recombinant parathyroid hormone (PTH). Lilly and Inhale plan to
develop the pulmonary form of Forteo with Inhale's Inhance -TM- drug delivery
platform and anticipate that this inhaleable product will be the first to use
Inhale's new pocketsize Solo-TM- inhaler technology.
Inhale also announced that Lilly has decided to discontinue work on an
unspecified inhaleable protein product that was in pre-clinical development with
Inhale. Inhale will be free to develop the product further on its own or with
another partner. "Given the technical progress we have made during our
collaboration with Lilly, we plan to continue work on this molecule and will
seek another partner for commercializing it," said Robert Chess, chairman of
Inhale.
INHALEABLE FORM OF FORTEO
Forteo is a bone forming agent that is being developed by Lilly as a treatment
for osteoporosis, a disease that results from a loss of bone mass and
deterioration of bone tissue. Osteoporosis can lead to enhanced bone fragility
and an increase in the risk of fracture. Unlike antiresorptive agents that work
to reduce bone loss, clinical trials with Forteo - a bone anabolic - suggest
that the agent appears to rapidly stimulate new bone formation.
"An inhaled formulation of Forteo could greatly benefit patients by providing a
convenient pulmonary delivery alternative," said Richard D. DiMarchi, Ph.D.,
vice president, research technologies and product development, for Lilly.
"Further, we are pleased to be working with Inhale as they have a breadth of
expertise and experience that spans discovery, development and manufacturing of
pulmonary systems."
"We believe that Forteo is potentially a leading new treatment for osteoporosis,
a disease that is growing as our population ages," said Robert Chess, chairman
of Inhale. "By working with Lilly, a leader in the development of innovative
products in the field of endocrinology, Inhale will be positioned to play a
major role in helping to treat osteoporosis in a patient-friendly way."
Chess continued, "We are also pleased that Lilly anticipates that pulmonary
Forteo will be the first to use Inhale's new pocketsize Solo-TM- inhaler
technology. We are developing this product as part of our family of inhalers to
be offered in our Inhance drug delivery platform."
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Inhale's new Solo technology will result in a pocketsize, patient-driven inhaler
designed to maximize patient reproducible inhaleable therapeutics by
automatically compensating for breathing differences among patients through
built-in flow control. The Solo inhaler will be an optimal product solution
where smaller device size, shorter-term use and larger drug payloads are
preferred without sacrificing consistent dosing. In addition to an inhaler, the
pulmonary Forteo product will use the powder processing and formulation products
of the Inhance platform.
Osteoporosis threatens approximately 23 million American women and has often
been referred to as a "silent" disease because it typically progresses without
symptoms until fractures occur.1 More than 1.5 million fractures are associated
with osteoporosis each year.1
Inhale is pioneering drug delivery systems designed to easily deliver a range of
inhaleable drugs, including peptides, proteins and small molecules, to the deep
lung for treatment of systemic and respiratory diseases. Inhale's Inhance drug
delivery platform technology combines innovations in powder technology and
inhaler delivery systems that should enable efficient and reproducible delivery
of inhaleable drugs.
This release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Inhale
management's current views as to the company's future products, product
developments, and other future events and operations. These forward-looking
statements involve uncertainties and other risks that are detailed in Inhale's
reports and other filings with the SEC, including its latest Form 10-Q dated
August 2000. Actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking
statements.
# # #
1 1996 AND 2015 OSTEOPOROSIS PREVALENCE FIGURES. STATE-BY-STATE REPORT.
Washington, D.C.: National Osteoporosis Foundation; 1997:
Executive Summary, 1,2.
Forteo-TM- (teriparatide, Lilly)
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