Investigators Present Final Results Of Three Groundbreaking Trials Of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s AVINZA(R) At The American Pain Society Meeting

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2006--Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Pink Sheets:LGND - News) announced the final data from three studies of its pain product AVINZA® presented in poster sessions at the American Pain Society annual meeting today in San Antonio. In the first study, AVINZA showed better around the clock control of chronic pain and improved sleep in a large randomized study comparing AVINZA given once daily to oxycodone CR(1) given twice daily in patients with low back pain. A second study demonstrated AVINZA's ability to provide better sleep as well as improved pain control for patients with moderate-to-severe chronic osteoarthritis. In the third study conducted in patients with chronic, non-cancer, moderate-to-severe pain, AVINZA was shown to improve pain, sleep, and physical functioning.