PsychoGenics Inc. Achieves Another Milestone In Drug Discovery Collaboration With Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PGI Drug Discovery LLC (PsychoGenics), today announced the achievement of a milestone in its drug discovery and development collaboration with Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

“Our collaboration with Sunovion continues to deliver potential drug candidates and further validates our phenotypic approach to CNS drug discovery”

In August 2007, PsychoGenics and Sunovion entered into a drug discovery and development agreement to combine their complementary strengths and expertise to identify a new generation of treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. Using its proprietary in vivo drug discovery technologies, including its SmartCube^® system, PsychoGenics evaluated a library of Sunovion compounds, leading to the discovery of new drug candidates with novel modes of action. Sunovion has decided to exercise its option to develop a third drug candidate, thereby triggering an additional milestone payment to PsychoGenics.

From a library hit and subsequent chemistry lead optimization employing SmartCube, the program has already advanced one molecule into clinical development. “Our collaboration with Sunovion continues to deliver potential drug candidates and further validates our phenotypic approach to CNS drug discovery,” remarked Emer Leahy, Ph.D., PsychoGenics' President & CEO. “We look forward to developing this exciting new program and continuing to work with Sunovion on other research programs.”

PsychoGenics technologies combine broad in vivo behavioral expertise with recent developments in robotics, computer vision, and bioinformatics to evaluate drug candidates for potential utility across the spectrum of CNS disease indications. Working in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, PsychoGenics has been instrumental in identifying therapeutic potential for discontinued compounds and early stage compounds with novel mechanisms of action.

About PsychoGenics

PsychoGenics is a leader in in vivo phenotypic drug discovery. The company applies its proprietary technology platforms in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to discover the next generation of drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders. PsychoGenics' capabilities also include standard behavioral testing, electrophysiology, molecular biology, and state-of-the-art microdialysis. In addition, the company offers a variety of in-licensed transgenic mouse models that support research in areas such as Huntington’s disease, Autism spectrum disorders, psychosis/schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), muscular dystrophy and other muscle disorders.

About Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Sunovion)

Sunovion is a leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutic products that advance the science of medicine in the Psychiatry, Neurology and Respiratory disease areas. Sunovion’s drug development program, together with its corporate development and licensing efforts, has yielded a portfolio of pharmaceutical products including Aptiom^® (eslicarbazepine acetate), Latuda^® (lurasidone HCl) tablets, Lunesta^® (eszopiclone) tablets, Xopenex HFA^® (levalbuterol tartrate) inhalation aerosol, Brovana^® (arformoterol tartrate) inhalation solution, Omnaris^® (ciclesonide) nasal spray, Zetonna^® (ciclesonide) nasal aerosol and Alvesco^® (ciclesonide) inhalation aerosol.

Sunovion, an indirect, wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma., Ltd., is headquartered in Marlborough, Mass. More information about Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. is available at www.sunovion.com.

About Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is a top-ten listed pharmaceutical company in Japan. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma aims to produce and develop innovative pharmaceutical products in the Psychiatry & Neurology area and the Oncology area, which have been designated as the focus therapeutic areas. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is based on the merger in 2005 between Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Today, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma has about 7,000 employees worldwide. Additional information about Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is available through its corporate website at www.ds-pharma.com.

LATUDA is a registered trademark of Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. LUNESTA, XOPENEX, XOPENEX HFA, and BROVANA are registered trademarks of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. OMNARIS and ALVESCO are registered trademarks of Takeda GmbH, used under license.

APTIOM is used under license from BIAL.