Origenis Extends Research Alliance with Alcon to Develop Novel Ophthalmic Compounds

July 5, 2006

Munich, Germany, June, 2006 – Origenis GmbH today announced that it has extended the research alliance with Alcon Research, Ltd. to develop small molecule drugs against important ophthalmic targets for two years. The alliance combines Origenis’ compound design and synthesis capabilities with Alcon’s applied biology expertise, screening capabilities and development expertise.

Origenis has developed a unique process to design and synthesize novel molecules acting against different targets, which targets will be chosen by Alcon. Origenis will apply its technology platform MOREsystem® to deliver pre-clinical candidates with indication optimized profiles for certain Alcon targets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Alcon will retain the rights to any products for ophthalmic and nasal applications and Origenis will retain certain rights to all other uses of drug candidates discovered during the alliance.

Alcon will make research payments to Origenis through a series of development milestones and royalties on sales. Dr. Michael Thormann, Managing Director at Origenis said: "This extension validates the strength of our technology platform, which allows the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel molecules acting against given targets in combination with giving these molecules indication-specific advantageous properties. Origenis’’ approach combines lead finding and lead optimization in one step, thus, reducing attrition and shorting time to market."

Dr. Marty Wax, Vice President Ophthalmology Discovery Research at Alcon added: "We have been impressed with Origenis’’ capabilities and performance since the commencement of our relationship and we look forward to continuing our successful relationship in the future."

Notes

Origenis GmbH ( www.origenis.de ) is a privately owned Germany-based company offering creative services for drug design, synthesis, and characterisation driven by a patented technology platform. This unique, fast, and highly integrated platform –– MOREsystem® –– has been developed and validated by an interdisciplinary team of scientists over several years and is now applied for origenis’’ partners. MOREsystem® enables the directed target and indication optimised exploitation of billions of novel compounds through a proprietary multiparametric optimisation process.