King Pharmaceuticals and Acura Pharmaceuticals Enter Agreement to Develop and Commercialize Immediate Release Pain Medicines Utilizing Acura's Aversion(R) (Abuse-Deterrent) ...(ription drug abuse. Mr. Reddick adde...),Health

Mr. Reddick added, "We look forward to working closely with King to bring innovative immediate release opioid analgesic products to market utilizing our Aversion(R) (abuse-deterrent) Technology. Discouraging prescription drug abuse benefits patients, healthcare providers, third party payors, and society as a whole, while at the same time we expect to create substantial value for King and Acura shareholders."

Dr. Eric Carter, Chief Science Officer of King, commented, "Opioid analgesics play a very important role in the effective management of moderate to severe pain. However, abuse and misuse of these medicines represents a major area of concern among physicians, pharmacists, patients, and the health- care sector. At King, we are committed to addressing this important public health issue and the needs of our customers by offering pain medicines that are proven effective and incorporate safe and appropriate means to discourage abuse and misuse."

Dr. Carter added, "We believe Acura and our long-established partner, Pain Therapeutics, have developed unique platforms designed to address the challenges related to abuse and misuse of immediate release and long-acting pain medicines. Acura's innovative and proprietary Aversion(R) Technology has the potential to significantly reduce common methods of abuse associated with immediate release opioids used for the treatment of acute pain. Similarly, REMOXY(TM) (long acting oral oxycodone) and other long-acting opioids that we are jointly developing with Pain Therapeutics utilizing Durect Corporation's SABER(TM) formulation technology have significant potential to deter common methods of abuse associated with long-acting opioids used for the treatment of chronic pain."

"Our alliance with Acura will help further address this growing opportunity and adds considerable strength to King's pipeline, allowing for the development of multiple future medicines," concluded Dr. Carter.

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