SPEEDEL REPORTS ON DATA PUBLISHED AT HYPERTENSION 2008 MEDICAL CONGRESS

BASEL, SWITZERLAND and BRDGEWATER, NJ, Jun 19 (MARKET
WIRE) --
Speedel Holding Ltd. (SWX: SPPN) today announced that data for two of its
developmental product candidates were presented at Hypertension 2008, the
joint meeting of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and the
European Society of Hypertension (ESH) in Berlin (14- 19 June 2008).
Results from the Phase IIa proof-of-concept trial with SPP635, one of the
company's next generation of renin inhibitors, demonstrated strong
efficacy and good safety[2],[3]. Based on these results Speedel continues
Phase IIa development in a special population of diabetic patients with
mild-to-moderate hypertension. For SPP301, an endothelin receptor A
antagonist in development for patients with diabetes, results of several
pre-clinical investigations were presented[4],[5],[6].

Klaus Dembowsky, M.D. Ph.D., Managing Director Speedel Experimenta
stated: "The pre-clinical and clinical contributions of Speedel to this
important meeting on hypertension and related diseases underline the
scientific orientation of our company. Speedel is focused on
cardiovascular and metabolic diseases targeting innovations that will
ultimately lead to improved treatment options for physicians and benefits
for their patients."

Pre-clinical and clinical data on SPP635

The clinical study presented at Hypertension 2008 investigated the safety
and efficacy of SPP635 in a double-blind, placebo- controlled,
randomised, parallel design[2]. Twenty patients with mild-to- moderate
hypertension received a single daily dose of SPP635 while 15 patients
received placebo for 4 weeks. Sitting blood pressure as well as 24-hour
ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) were the main criteria of efficacy.

Compared to placebo, SPP635 was more efficacious in lowering blood
pressure, both systolic and diastolic, during day-time and night- time -
and over 24 hours, as assessed by ABP. Sitting blood pressure data were
comparable to ABP. These data confirm the potential use of SPP635 as a
once-daily drug. SPP635 was safe and well tolerated over the 4 week
treatment period. There were neither any serious adverse events reported
nor were there any clinically significant changes in laboratory safety
parameters.

Treatment with SPP635 decreased ABP (mean +/- SEM) compared to placebo
(24-hour systolic ABP -12.5 +/- 1.70 mmHg vs. +1.5 +/- 1.59 mmHg,
diastolic ABP -8.4 +/- 1.09 mmHg vs. -0.1 +/- 1.10 mmHg). Moreover, there
was a significant decrease in ABP not only during the daytime (systolic
BP effects of SPP635 vs. placebo: -14.4 +/- 2.01 mmHg vs. +0.9 +/- 2.17
mmHg; diastolic BP lowering of SPP 635 vs. placebo: - 9.6 +/-1.38 mmHg
vs. -0.7 +/- 1.55 mmHg) but also during night-time (systolic BP effects
of SPP635 vs. placebo: -9.7 +/- 1.80 mmHg vs. +2.7 +/- 2.17 mmHg;
diastolic BP lowering of SPP 635 vs. placebo: -6.9 +/- 1.20 mmHg vs. +2.4
+/- 2.26 mmHg), indicating a persistent 24-h ABP reduction through a
long-term effect of the renin inhibitor. Similar results were observed
for sitting blood pressure. The effects on ABP were associated with a
significant decrease in the plasma renin activity in the SPP635 treatment
group.

In a pre-clinical study, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties
of SPP635 were investigated[3]. The data demonstrate that SPP635 has very
favourable properties including long half-life in rats and dogs (3.6 h
and 8 h, respectively), high oral bioavailability (87% and 50%,
respectively), good efficacy in lowering blood pressure and preventing
renal damage in animal models. These properties predispose SPP635 for
clinical development in hypertension and end organ protection, e.g. a
condition such as diabetic kidney disease.

SPP635 belongs to the next generation of renin inhibitors following
Speedel's lead compound SPP100 (aliskiren; Rasilez/Tekturna[1]), which is
partnered with Novartis and has obtained marketing authorisations in USA,
the European Union and many other countries. SPP635 is the most advanced
compound in the SPP600 series and is one of several new proprietary renin
inhibitors invented by Speedel Experimenta, the company's late-stage
research unit. Clinical profiling of SPP635 is ongoing in special
populations (diabetic patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension). The
trial is being carried out in Europe with results due in the second half
of 2008.

Pre-clinical data on SPP301

A study in rats demonstrated for the first time that the endothelin
receptor A antagonist SPP301 (avosentan) may cause leakage of fluid from
the intravascular into the extravascular space[5]. Fluid leakage was
assessed as changes in hematocrit. Fluid shift may be one of the causes
of fluid retention and oedema observed in the ASCEND study in patients
with diabetic nephropathy when treated with SPP301. Most importantly,
this animal study provides clear evidence that the fluid shift is
concentration dependent and only occurs with the highest concentrations.
These data provide the rationale for a new clinical Phase II study in
patients with diabetic nephropathy with lower doses of SPP301 thus
avoiding fluid retention and oedema.

The results of a further study with SPP301 (avosentan) in a mouse model
of diabetic kidney disease demonstrate a strong anti-albuminuric efficacy
of this compound[6]. Albuminuria (presence of albumine in the urine) was
markedly reduced in diabetic mice after treatment for 20 weeks. This
effect was dose-dependent and was accompanied by an improvement in
parameters of renal structural damage, a decrease in collagen, and
profibrotic gene expression in the kidney. At the highest dose, all
changes were highly significant (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a
trend for the highest dose of SPP301 to be more effective than an
angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (quinapril). These data
demonstrate for the first time that the marked reduction of albuminuria
in patients treated with SPP301 may be due to a profound reduction of
fibrotic parameters underlying the renal injury in diabetic kidney
disease.

A study in transgenic rats (expressing human renin and angiotensinogen)
with a strongly activated renin angiotensin system investigated the
effects of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan and SPP301
(avosentan) on hypertensive renal damage[4]. This model is characterized
by strong hypertension, renal failure with albuminuria and high
mortality. Both drugs given orally alone reduced mortality, albuminuria
and histological kidney damage demonstrating that both angiotensin II and
endothelin play an important role in the renal damage in this animal
model. The effect on albuminuria was already present after a shorter
period of treatment. When both drugs were given in combination there was a
marked additive effect on albuminuria and kidney damage as well as
mortality. These findings suggest that angiotensin II and endothelin may
act through separate pathways and support the hypothesis of additive
effects of both treatments in patients with diabetic kidney disease.

About Speedel

Speedel is a public biopharmaceutical company that seeks to create value
for patients, partners and investors by developing innovative therapies
for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Speedel is a world leader in
renin inhibition, a promising new approach with significant potential for
treating cardiovascular diseases. Our lead compound SPP100, Aliskiren
(Rasilez/Tekturna[1])the first-in-class direct renin inhibitor, was
in-licensed from Novartis in 1999 and licensed-back to Novartis Pharma in
2002 for further development and commercialisation; SPP100 was approved
by the FDA in the US in March 2007, and by the EMEA in the EU in August
2007. Our pipeline covers four different modes of action, and in addition
to SPP100, includes SPP301 (an endothelin receptor A antagonist) in Phase
II, SPP200 (a direct thrombin inhibitor) in Phase II, the next generation
renin inhibitors SPP635 (in Phase Il), SPP1148 and SPP676 (both in Phase
I) and several pre-clinical projects, including SPP2475 (aldosterone
synthase inhibitor).

Speedel develops novel product candidates through focused innovation and
smart drug development from lead identification to the end of Phase II.
We either partner with big pharma for Phase III and commercialisation in
primary-care indications, or we may ourselves complete Phase III
development in specialist indications. Candidate compounds for
development and the company's intellectual property come from our
late-stage research unit Speedel Experimenta and from in-licensing. Our
team of approximately 80 employees, including over 30 experienced
pharmaceutical scientists, is located at our headquarters and
laboratories in Basel, Switzerland and at offices in New Jersey, USA and
Tokyo, Japan.

Speedel was founded in 1998 as a private company. In September 2005 the
company's shares were listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange under the symbol
SPPN. Further information is available at www.speedel.com.

Forward looking statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements that involve
substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are
based on our current expectations and projections about future events.
All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding our
strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues,
projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are
forward-looking statements. The word "may" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not
actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations described in these
forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on
them. There can be no assurance that actual results of our research and
development activities and our results of operations will not differ
materially from these expectations. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ from expectations include, among others: our or our
partners' ability to develop safe and efficacious products; our or our
partners' ability to achieve positive results in clinical trials; our or
our partners' ability to obtain marketing approval and market acceptance
for our product candidates; our ability to enter into future collaboration
and licensing agreements; the impact of competition and technological
change; existing and future regulations affecting our business; changes
in governmental oversight of pharmaceutical product development; the
future scope of our patent coverage or that of third parties; the effects
of any future litigation; general economic and business conditions, both
internationally and within our industry, including exchange rate
variations; and our future financing plans.

-- Ends --

[1] Rasilez/Tekturna(R) are Novartis trademarks.

[2] Hengelage T, Herold P, Jensen C, Baltatu OC. Efficacy and safety of
the oral renin inhibitor SPP635 once daily in patients with mild to
moderate hypertension.

[3] Zaugg CE, Louie P, Dembowsky K, Jensen C, Baltatu OC. Preclinical
pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characterization of SPP635, a new
direct renin inhibitor.

[4] Baltatu OC, Zaugg CE, Bader M, Dembowsky K. Additive kidney
protective effects of an angiotensin receptor antagonist combined with
the endothelin type A receptor antagonist SPP301 in a rat model of
malignant hypertension.

[5] Maillard MP, Wang Q, Baltatu OC, Burnier M. Do endothelin receptor
antagonists induce edema through an extravasation of fluids? Evidence
from an experiment in bi-nephrectomized rats.

[6] Jandeleit-Dahm K, Watson A, SoroPaavonen A, Allen T, Thomas M,
Schumacher C, Cooper M. The novel endothelin receptor A (ET-A) antagonist
SPP 301 attenuates albuminuria and renal structural injury in
streptozotocin- induced diabetic apoE knockout mice.

Copyright
Copyright Hugin AS 2008. All rights reserved.

For further information please contact:

Dr. Harald F. Schaefer
Director Communications & Investor Relations
Speedel
Hirschgaesslein 11
CH - 4051 Basel
Switzerland

T +41 (0) 61 206 40 00
D +41 (0) 61 206 40 14
F +41 (0) 61 206 40 01
M +41 (0) 79 629 76 71
E Email Contact
www.speedel.com

Frank LaSaracina
Managing Director
Speedel Pharmaceuticals Inc
1661 Route 22 West
P.O. Box 6532
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
United States of America

T +1 732 537 2290
F +1 732 537 2292
M +1 908 338 0501
E Email Contact
www.speedel.com

Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-