Amylin Pharmaceuticals Highlights 2009 Value Creation Opportunities

Product and Operational Targets Presented At JPMorgan Healthcare Conference

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(Nasdaq: AMLN) today announced product and operational targets for 2009 that
provide the opportunity to transform diabetes and obesity treatment and
position the Company to be cash flow positive by the end of 2010. The news was
presented by Daniel M. Bradbury, president and chief executive officer, at the
JPMorgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, CA.

"The epidemics of diabetes and obesity, which synergistically contribute to
cardiovascular disease, are the major health crises of our lifetime," said
Bradbury. "The significant unmet need in the diabetes and obesity markets
provides an opportunity for Amylin's first-in-class therapies to create
tremendous benefit. We look to 2009 to further improve health outcomes for
patients, physicians and payors, and to increase shareholder value."

2009 CORPORATE TARGETS
During his remarks, Bradbury highlighted the key 2009 value creation
opportunities for Amylin. These targets include the following:

-- Gain approval for an expanded indication of BYETTA as a monotherapy,
finalize label updates and return the product to growth
-- Leverage knowledge gained from BYETTA to submit the New Drug
Application
(NDA) for exenatide once weekly and execute the DURATION head-to-head
clinical program designed to show comparative superiority
-- Continue growing SYMLIN revenue
-- Complete obesity clinical trials with amylin/leptin analogs and
finalize
obesity development and funding strategy
-- Improve operating results and make significant progress toward
achieving
positive operating cash flow by the end of 2010

Bradbury added, "Our priorities are clear: Grow BYETTA and SYMLIN revenue,
submit the NDA for exenatide once weekly and maintain an unwavering focus on
managing expenses to achieve positive cash flow by the end of 2010."

A recording of the presentation is accessible through Amylin's corporate Web
site, located at www.amylin.com.

About Amylin Pharmaceuticals
Amylin Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving
lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative
medicines. Amylin has developed and gained approval for two first-in-class
medicines for diabetes, SYMLIN(R) (pramlintide acetate) injection and
BYETTA(R) (exenatide) injection. Amylin's research and development activities
leverage the Company's expertise in metabolism to develop potential therapies
to treat diabetes and obesity. Amylin is headquartered in San Diego,
California. Further information on Amylin Pharmaceuticals is available at
http://www.amylin.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Amylin, which
involve risks and uncertainties. Amylin's actual results could differ
materially from those discussed due to a number of risks and uncertainties,
including the risks that: BYETTA and SYMLIN and the revenues generated from
these products may be affected by competition, unexpected new data, and safety
and technical issues; clinical trials, including those mentioned in this press
release, not being completed in a timely manner, confirming previous results,
or achieving the intended clinical endpoints; label expansion requests or NDA
filings, including those mentioned in this press release, not being submitted
in a timely manner; regulatory approvals being delayed or not received;
updates to the BYETTA label not being finalized in a timely manner; our
obesity development and funding strategy not being finalized in a timely
manner; our expense reductions may not be as large as we expect; or
manufacturing and supply issues. The potential for BYETTA and SYMLIN may also
be affected by government and commercial reimbursement and pricing decisions,
the pace of market acceptance, or scientific, regulatory and other issues and
risks inherent in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical
products. These and additional risks and uncertainties are described more
fully in Amylin's most recent SEC filings including its Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q. Amylin undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking
statements.

SOURCE Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Media, Anne Erickson, +1-858-754-4443, Cell, +1-858-349-3195,
anne.erickson@amylin.com, or Investors, Michael York, +1-858-458-8602,
michael.york@amylin.com, both of Amylin Pharmaceuticals