Sirion Therapeutics Announces Clinical Data to be Presented at the 2007 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting

TAMPA, Fla., April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirion Therapeutics announced today that data on two of the Company's pipeline compounds, ST-601 (difluprednate) and ST-602 (fenretinide), will be presented at the 2007 annual meeting of The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. In addition to these presentations, the company will be hosting a reception for ARVO attendees.

ST-601 (difluprednate) is currently being evaluated in two phase III clinical trials in the treatment of ocular inflammation following cataract surgery. ST-601 (difluprednate) was acquired by Sirion last year through an exclusive licensing agreement with Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., of Japan. The agreement gives Sirion the U.S. rights to develop and market a topical ophthalmic emulsion containing the steroid compound difluprednate for the treatment of inflammatory eye diseases and conditions.

ST-602 (fenretinide) is currently being evaluated in a phase II clinical trial in the treatment of Geographic Atrophy (GA) in patients with age-related macular degeneration. The trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo controlled, dose-comparison in up to 225 patients in approximately 20 sites in the United States.

"We are pleased to announce the upcoming schedule of presentations relating to difluprednate and fenretinide at the ARVO annual conference. ARVO is the one of the oldest, largest and most highly respected vision research organizations in the world," stated Barry Butler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sirion Therapeutics. "This is exciting news for our company in that it is the first time we will be presenting scientific data on our pipeline compounds. These presentations will provide support of the potential future clinical utility of these compounds in the treatment of ophthalmic eye diseases and conditions and demonstrate our commitment to discovering, developing and commercializing ophthalmic therapies for unmet needs."

Sirion Therapeutics Reception for all ARVO attendees: A company update and presentation by Sirion Therapeutics' senior executives Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 7:30 p.m. -- 9:00 p.m. Venue: Ft. Lauderdale Grande For additional information, contact Mary Leaper at mleaper@siriontherapeutics.com or register online at http://www.siriontherapeutics.com/ARVO and use the password VISION. ARVO poster presentations featuring ST-601 (difluprednate): Preclinical Pharmacokinetics of Difluprednate Emulsion Session Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B741, Program Number: 2651 Ocular Distribution and Metabolism after Instillation of Difluprednate Ophthalmic Emulsion in Rabbits Session Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B744, Program Number: 2654 Preclinical Toxicity of Difluprednate Emulsion Session Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B743, Program Number: 2653 Efficacy of Difluprednate Ophthalmic Emulsion in Preclinical Studies of Uveitis Session Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B742, Program Number: 2652 Difluprednate Emulsion Inhibits Postoperative Inflammation in Rabbit Paracentesis Model Session Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B745, Program Number: 2655 A Phase III, Non-Inferiority Study of Difluprednate Ophthalmic Emulsion (DFBA), 0.05% in the Treatment of Anterior Uveitis Session Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B808, Program Number: 3904 A Phase III, Open-Label, Clinical Study of Difluprednate Ophthalmic Emulsion (DFBA), 0.05% in the Treatment of Severe Refractory Anterior Uveitis Session Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B809, Program Number: 3905 Efficacy and Safety Results of a Phase III Study of Difluprednate Ophthalmic Emulsion 0.05% in Postoperative Inflammation Session Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2007, 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Posterboard Number: B807 , Program Number: 3903 ARVO poster presentations featuring ST-602 (fenretinide): Reduction of Serum Retinol Binding Protein Arrests the Accumulation of Toxic Retinal Fluorophores: A Nonpharmacological Approach Session Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 3:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Posterboard Number: B220, Program Number: 3244 Megalin and Related Endocytic Receptors Mediate Uptake of Retinoid Binding Proteins in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Session Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 3:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Posterboard Number: B221, Program Number: 3245 About Sirion Therapeutics, Inc.

Sirion Therapeutics is an ophthalmic biopharmaceutical company poised to compete in the $4 billion U.S. prescription ophthalmic market segment. Sirion is dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative products to address unmet clinical needs. The company is currently developing a portfolio of product candidates that includes therapies in the areas of inflammatory diseases and conditions, allergy, dry eye, herpetic keratitis and dry age-related macular degeneration. Sirion is focused on growth through in- licensing, acquisition and geographic expansion. For more information regarding Sirion, please visit Sirion's website at http://www.siriontherapeutics.com/.