Biopharmaceuticals Personnel

 News Release - November 3, 2008

CyDex Pharmaceuticals Hires Vice President, Business Development and Marketing

Ralph S. Johnston Will Lead Company's Strategic Partnership Initiatives

LENEXA, Kan.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Ralph S. Johnston has been named as the company’s vice president, business development and marketing. Mr. Johnston will report directly to Theron E. Odlaug, CyDex president and chief executive officer.

In this newly created position, Johnston will play a lead role in CyDex’s strategic effort to develop and market low-risk proprietary products that target unmet needs in hospital intravenous acute care. In addition, he will be responsible for increasing the potential for new technology licensing agreements and limited clinical use agreements, enhancing the company’s intellectual property portfolio, and facilitating contract negations for in- and out-licensing product opportunities.

“Ralph brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience to CyDex,” said Odlaug. “He has a proven record of success in establishing partnerships and developing new business opportunities in senior leadership roles at pharmaceutical and medical device companies such as Pfizer and Elan Pharmaceuticals. We look forward to having Ralph on the CyDex team as we expand our CAPTISOL® technology licensing business and develop our proprietary product pipeline.”

Prior to joining CyDex, Johnston was senior vice president, chief commercial officer at Intranasal Therapeutics, where he was responsible for repositioning the company and identifying new development and commercial partners for nasal drug products. He previously was co-founder and president of Contour Medical, a drug delivery company. Prior to Contour, he was vice president, marketing and business development at Elan Pharmaceuticals, and vice president, sales and marketing at Pfizer Infusaid. Johnston received a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in business administration from Suffolk University.

About CyDex Pharmaceuticals

CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing products and licensing its CAPTISOL® enabling technology. CyDex is developing its own pipeline of products using its enabling technology solutions, and partnering with leading pharmaceutical, specialty pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. CyDex is a privately held company located in suburban Kansas City. To learn more about the company, please visit www.cydexpharma.com.

Source: CyDex Pharmaceuticals

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