Almirall announces promising results with a new compound for asthma and COPD

·Successful completion of a phase IIa study demonstrating 24 hours duration of action in asthma patients.

·This is a new once daily inhaled Long Acting Beta Agonist (LABA).

·The results clearly indicate that this compound LAS100977 is a potent, well tolerated, LABA with 24h duration of action in patients.

Barcelona, 22^nd April, 2008.- Almirall, the international pharmaceutical company based in Spain, announces promising results with a new compound for asthma / COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), a new once daily inhaled Long Acting Beta Agonist (LABA). The compound LAS100977 has successfully completed a single dose phase IIa study demonstrating 24 hour efficacy. LAS100977 is the lead compound in Almirall´s once daily LABA program for asthma/COPD.

The first patient study with LAS100977 was a single dose, double-blind, placebo and active (salmeterol 50 mg bid) controlled, cross-over study in 25 asthma patients exploring different doses of LAS100977 given once daily. The primary efficacy variable was change from pre-dose trough FEV1.

The data showed a statistically and clinical significant increase in change from pre-dose trough FEV1 vs both placebo and salmeterol for all doses of LAS100977. The compound was well tolerated. Limited, mechanism related side effects (e.g. tachycardia and tremor) was seen at the higher doses of LAS100977.

The results clearly indicate that LAS100977 is a potent, well tolerated, LABA with 24h duration of action in patients. Further phase II studies are planned to be initiated later this year.

Almirall intends to further develop this compound with the same proprietary inhaler device used for aclidinium bromide, Almirall's R&D once daily antimuscarinic currently in phase III clinical trials for COPD.

Almirall

Almirall, an international pharmaceutical company committed to health, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, researches, develops, manufactures and commercialises its own R&D and licensed drugs with the aim of improving people's health and wellbeing.

The therapeutic areas on which Almirall focuses its research resources are related to the treatment of asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Almirall is currently present in over 70 countries with direct presence in Europe and Latin America.

For more information:

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Sonia San Segundo / Victoria Hernández

sonia.sansegundo@ketchum.com

victoria.hernandez@ketchum.com

Tel.: 91 788 32 00