Transcept Pharmaceuticals Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2008 Financi...(ifying and securing a primary care marke...),Health

The financial information provided in this press release is for Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the private corporation that merged with Novacea, Inc. and whose business is substantially the business of the combined public company. The financial results of Transcept for quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 8-K on or before March 31, 2009. Financial results of Novacea, Inc. for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008 will be filed separately on Form 10-K with the SEC.

Full Year 2008 Financial Results

Research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2008 were $10.4 million, compared to $15.9 million for 2007. Of this $5.5 million decrease, $4.9 million is attributable to decreased expenses incurred in 2008 as the Phase 3 clinical development program for Intermezzo(R) was substantially completed in 2007. The remaining $0.6 million decrease is attributable to the reduction in expenditures for the Company's earlier stage development programs. Research and development expenses included non-cash stock compensation expense in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 123R of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 and $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

General and administrative expenses for 2008 were $7.9 million, compared to $5.3 million for 2007. Of this $2.6 million increase, approximately $1.7 million is attributable to higher professional fees incurred in preparation for operating as a publicly traded company, and increased headcount and related salary expenses. The remaining $0.9 million is attributable to market research expenses to support the development of the Intermezzo(R) commercialization plan. General and administrative expenses included non-cash stock compensa
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