( and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug...)Avanir Pharmaceuticals Announces Positive Results of Phase III,Study for Zenvia in Diabetic Neuropathic Pain,Health

About Zenvia

Zenvia is a combination of two well-characterized compounds, the active ingredient dextromethorphan, and the enzyme inhibitor quinidine, which serves to increase the bioavailability of dextromethorphan. The first-in-class drug candidate is believed to help regulate excitatory neurotransmission in two ways, through pre-synaptic inhibition of glutamate release via sigma-1 receptor agonist activity, and through postsynaptic glutamate response modulation via uncompetitive, low-affinity NMDA antagonist activity. Zenvia is currently in development for the treatment of Involuntary Emotional Expression Disorder (IEED) and diabetic neuropathic pain.

In October 2006, the Company received an approvable letter for the treatment of Zenvia in IEED. To address safety concerns raised in the FDA's approvable letter for Zenvia for the treatment of IEED, the company intends to initiate a confirmatory phase III study with a new lower quinidine dose formulation of Zenvia. The Company is considering whether it would be necessary or advisable to study a similar lower dose of quinidine in the second phase III trial being planned for diabetic neuropathic pain.

About Avanir

Avanir Pharmaceuticals is focused on developing, acquiring and commercializing novel therapeutic products for the treatment of chronic diseases. Avanir's products and product candidates address therapeutic markets that include the central nervous system, inflammation and infectious diseases. Avanir currently markets FazaClo(R), the only orally-disintegrating formulation of clozapine for the management of severely ill schizophrenic patients who fail to respond adequately to standard schizophrenic drug treatments. FazaClo is als
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