Psylin Neurosciences Commences Development of Compound for Depression

SAN DIEGO, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Psylin Neurosciences Inc., a joint venture
biotechnology company spun out of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and
PsychoGenics, Inc. announced today that it has initiated IND-enabling
development of a novel compound, PSN0041, for the treatment of depression.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090420/LA01157LOGO )

PSN0041, a peptide from Amylin's proprietary polypeptide hormone library,
PHORMOL, was identified as having utility in depression after screening it in
PsychoGenics' proprietary, drug discovery technologies. Not only has PSN0041
shown effects in multiple preclinical tests of depression, but also in
preclinical tests of anxiety. The peptide has several anticipated advantages
over current antidepressant medications including cognitive enhancement,
weight loss, a lack of sexual side effects, and an enhanced safety and side
effect profile. Psylin's primary aim is to advance PSN0041 rapidly through
early clinical development.

"The selection of PSN0041 as a clinical candidate for depression is an
important milestone for Psylin. We believe that PSN0041 validates the utility
of peptides in this therapeutic arena," said Mark Gergen, Co-CEO of Psylin and
Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at Amylin. "It also supports
Amylin's belief that value can be derived from PHORMOL in areas outside of
Amylin's core focus on diabetes and obesity therapies."

"PsychoGenics and Amylin formed Psylin in 2007 and in just two years
identified PSN0041. The productivity of the partnership is the direct result
of the good working relationship between both companies, the quality of
Amylin's PHORMOL library, and the predictive power of PsychoGenics'
proprietary, high throughput, in vivo approach to drug discovery," said Emer
Leahy, Ph.D., Co-CEO of Psylin and President and CEO of PsychoGenics.
"PSN0041 is a very exciting molecule that offers a new approach to the
treatment of depression and based on our preclinical models is expected to
provide certain unique advantages over existing treatments."

Psylin's mission is to pioneer the development of peptide therapeutics for the
treatment of psychiatric disorders. PSN0041 will be the first compound in
Psylin's pipeline to enter into clinical development. Other compounds are
being investigated for development as antipsychotic and mood stabilizing
therapies.

Amylin's proprietary peptide library known as PHORMOL encompasses an extensive
panel of potentially valuable biologics that have been taken from nature,
including human peptides not previously described. All of these have been
synthesized to create a rich source of compounds that are being evaluated for
potential utility in a range of diseases.

PsychoGenics' proprietary drug discovery technologies combine its broad in
vivo behavioral expertise with recent developments in robotics, computer
vision and bio/cheminformatics to evaluate drug candidates for potential
utility across the spectrum of neuropsychiatric disease indications. Working
in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, PsychoGenics has
been instrumental in identifying therapeutic potential for a variety of early
and late stage compounds including some with novel "first-in-class" mechanisms
of action such as PSN0041.

About Depression
Depression is the leading major cause of disability in the United States.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects
approximately 19 million people in the United States. The U.S. Surgeon
General estimates that the indirect costs attributable to depression amount to
$80 billion annually.

About Psylin
Psylin Neurosciences, Inc. was formed in January, 2007 as a 50/50 joint
venture biotechnology company spun out of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and
PsychoGenics, Inc. Psylin's mission is to pioneer the development of peptide
therapeutics in neuropsychiatric disorders. Psylin has access to molecules in
Amylin's PHORMOL library and to PsychoGenics' proprietary drug discovery
technologies. Amylin's expertise in peptide biology, manufacturing and drug
delivery, combined with PsychoGenics' expertise in preclinical
neuropharmacology, provide Psylin with a unique drug discovery resource.
Psylin has the right to develop a number of drug candidates in psychiatric
disorders emerging from this collaboration.

Website: www.psylin.com

SOURCE Psylin Neurosciences, Inc.

William E. Rote, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer of Psylin Neurosciences, Inc.,
+1-858-754-4306, info@psylin.com