Santhera Acquires Juvantia and Secures All Rights to JP-1730/Fipamezole

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Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN), a Swiss specialty
pharmaceutical company focused on orphan neuromuscular diseases,
announced today that it exercised its option to acquire Oy Juvantia
Pharma Ltd of Turku, Finland, the owner of JP-1730/fipamezole.
Santhera will issue up to 105,973 previously reserved shares from its
authorized capital to Juvantia investors subject to certain
conditions. JP-1730/fipamezole, a first-in-class compound, recently
completed Phase II development for the treatment of Dyskinesia in
Parkinson's Disease.

Klaus Schollmeier, Chief Executive Officer of Santhera, said: "The
positive FJORD Phase IIb results confirmed the efficacy of
JP-1730/fipamezole in reducing levodopa-induced dyskinesia in
patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. In order to exploit the
full potential of the drug for Santhera, including potential
out-licensing rights, we now have full access to all rights to the
product."

Upon the exercise of the option, Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG
immediately became the owner of Juvantia. In consideration and
subject to certain conditions, Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG
will later issue up to 105,973 previously reserved shares from its
authorized capital to Juvantia investors. The new shares will be
listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. After closing of the transaction, the
share capital of Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG will consist of
3,628,688 listed shares with a nominal value of CHF 1 each and the
available amount of authorized share capital will be reduced
accordingly to CHF 323,945.

In July 2006, Santhera and Juvantia signed a collaboration agreement
to advance the development of Juvantia's compound JP-1730/fipamezole
for the treatment of Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease. Under the
agreement, Santhera was responsible for conducting and funding
further development work. At the same time, a separate option
agreement between Santhera and the Juvantia investors effectively
granted Santhera the right to acquire Juvantia, thereby securing all
rights to the program.

About Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative
disease. Doctors prescribe levodopa and other dopaminergic compounds
as standard therapy. Over time, as the disease progresses, the
beneficial effects of this medication often diminish and additional
movement disorders can appear (sometimes quite severe). These
movement disorders include dyskinesia which can be described as
sudden uncontrollable, often chaotic movements of limbs, face, tongue
and body. These complications derive principally from long-term
levodopa use, but there is currently no alternative to using levodopa
or dopamine agonists.

About Fipamezole
Fipamezole is an antagonist of the adrenergic alpha-2 receptor with a
novel mode of action in the treatment of Dyskinesia in Parkinson's
Disease. The rationale behind the development of fipamezole is to
increase noradrenergic release in certain areas of the brain,
resulting in rebalancing of the distorted brain network and
potentially alleviating symptoms of advanced Parkinson's disease such
as dyskinesia, motor fluctuations, orthostatic hypotension and
cognitive impairment without exacerbating the underlying Parkinsonian
features of the disease. In a recent Phase IIb study, Santhera
demonstrated that JP-1730/fipamezole reduces Dyskinesia in
Parkinson's Disease with the study results also suggesting that the
drug has the potential to reduce "off time" and improve cognitive
function. Furthermore, the reduction in dyskinesia was found to be
strongly correlated with the investigator's clinical global
impression of improvement in overall condition.

* * *

About Santhera
Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) is a Swiss specialty
pharmaceutical company focused on the development and
commercialization of small-molecule pharmaceutical products for the
treatment of severe neuromuscular diseases, an area of high unmet
medical need which includes many orphan indications with no current
therapy. Santhera's first product, Catena® to treat Friedreich's
Ataxia, is marketed in Canada and in a well-advanced Phase III
development program. Recently published study results show that the
Company's second compound, JP-1730/fipamezole is efficacious in
reducing levodopa-induced Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease. For
further information, please visit the Company's web site
www.santhera.com.

Catena® is a trademark of Santhera Pharmaceuticals.

For further information, contact
Klaus Schollmeier, Chief Executive Officer
Phone: +41 (0)61 906 89 52
klaus.schollmeier@santhera.com

Barbara Heller, Chief Financial Officer
Phone: +41 (0)61 906 89 54
barbara.heller@santhera.com

Thomas Staffelbach, Head Public & Investor Relations
Phone: +41 (0)61 906 89 47
thomas.staffelbach@santhera.com

Disclaimer/Forward-looking statements
This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to
subscribe for or purchase any securities of Santhera Pharmaceuticals
Holding AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking
statements concerning the Company and its business. Such statements
involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could
cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not
place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in
connection with any contract or investment decision. The Company
disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG
Hammerstrasse 47 Liestal
Switzerland

WKN: A0LCUK; ISIN: CH0027148649; Index: SPI, SPIEX, SSCI;
Listed:
Main Market in SIX Swiss Exchange;
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