Amira Pharmaceuticals Announces Patent Grant in United Kingdom

Patent Covers Novel DP2 (CRTH2) Receptor Antagonists for the Treatment of Respiratory Disorders

SAN DIEGO, April 22, 2010 - Amira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.K. Intellectual
Property Office has granted it patent number GB2460597
(www.ipo.gov.uk/p-find-publication-result?PatentNo=GB2460597&Journal
Number=0&EarliestYear=1900&EarliestWeek=1&LatestYear=2050&LatestWeek=52&Doc
Types=A%2CA8%2CA9%2CB%2CB8%2CC%2CC2%2CC3&ResultsPerPage=2&Start=0 ) titled
"N,N-Disubstituted aminoalkylBiPhenyl Antagonists OF Prostaglandin d2
RECEPTORS."

This is the first patent granted of a large estate filed by Amira
Pharmaceuticals that describe novel small molecule inhibitors of the DP2
(CRTH2) receptor (www.amirapharm.com/research.html ). Amira has
successfully completed Phase 1 studies
(www.amirapharm.com/articles/Amira%20AM461%20Clinical%20Announcement.p
df) on its lead DP2 receptor antagonist, AM211, and anticipates that this
compound will be developed for the treatment of respiratory diseases such as
asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other allergic
conditions.

"This UK patent is a significant milestone for Amira and it demonstrates
our ability to gain protection for our lead clinical candidate, AM211, and
related compounds in a major market," said John Hutchinson, Ph.D.
(www.amirapharm.com/management.html ), Vice President of Chemistry.
"It also clearly shows that Amira can effectively develop novel drug
candidates and that we are able compete with the best pharmaceutical
companies in the world."

The newly granted claims cover novel biphenyl acetic acid compounds,
their formulation and uses in Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)-dependent conditions.
The patent also describes the method of synthesis of this class of DP2
antagonists and their routes of administration for the treatment of DP2
receptor-mediated diseases and conditions.

About Amira

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Diego, Amira Pharmaceuticals is
a small molecule pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and early
development of new drugs to treat inflammatory disease
(www.amirapharm.com/research.html ). Our discovery team is building on
unparalleled insights into bioactive lipid pathways
(www.amirapharm.com/pathways.html ) and complex signaling processes
controlling many conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, cardiovascular and fibrotic diseases. Amira has a partnership with
GlaxoSmithKline
(www.amirapharm.com/articles/Amira%20GSK%20Announcement%202-4-08.pdf )
for the development of FLAP (5-lipoxygenaseactivating protein) inhibitors in
respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

Amira combines the rigor of a big pharmaceutical company with the
ingenuity and energy of a small company, creating an environment for
efficient development of novel compounds and effective pre-clinical and
clinical program decisions. Its scientific founders
(www.amirapharm.com/management.html ) have successfully worked
together for more than a decade and were pivotal in the discovery of a number
of inflammatory drugs, including Singulair(R). The drug hunters at Amira are
now actively leveraging their history of success to create high-value
compounds for the future. For more information, visit
www.amirapharm.com.

Ian Stone of Russo Partners, +1-619-528-2220, ian.stone at russopartnersllc.com