Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mark Moran said, "We are pleased with these results. We believe they also support our new drug delivery efforts with this drug. In collaboration with ALZA, we are also putting omega interferon into the implantable DUROS delivery system. With DUROS, we hope to be able to deliver omega interferon for months with a single administration.

Hepatitis C infection can lead to severe impairment of liver function, liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, HCV infects nearly 3 million people in the United States, and the World Health Organization estimates 170 million people are infected worldwide. Many infected persons are unaware of the infection. The spread of HCV infection has reached epidemic proportions, as some experts believe that without substantial improvements in treatment, the death toll from HCV infection will surpass that from HIV.

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Contact: Emily Katz
e.katz@noonanrusso.com
415-677-4455
Noonan/Russo Communications
12-Nov-2001