Release Details

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NBIX) today announced an agreement to collaborate with privately held Rigel, Inc. to discover novel molecular targets involved in glial cell activation. Rigel, a recent start-up company located in Sunnyvale, CA has developed a high-throughput functional genomics technology. This technology, originally developed by Dr. Garry Nolan of Stanford University, rapidly identifies proteins involved in intracellular signal transduction pathways.

Neurocrine has an active research effort in neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases and currently has two drugs in clinical trials for multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. A common feature of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, both acute and chronic, is the activation of glial cells. Therefore, inhibitors of gliosis may prove useful in the treatment of a number of these devastating diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Neurocrine will gain access to Rigel's proprietary technology including unique intracellular combinatorial libraries designed to allow screening of glial cell signaling pathways at speeds greater than 50,000 cells per second. Rigel will also gain access to several of Neurocrine's technologies, proprietary chemical libraries, personnel and resources, which Rigel will utilize in the development of its internal development programs. Rigel currently has lead programs in the areas of allergy, immunology, and apoptosis.

"Rigel is one of the most exciting biotech companies that I have seen started in the last several years. I believe that our collaboration with them in one of our core areas of research could significantly accelerate our drug development efforts," said Gary A. Lyons, President and CEO of Neurocrine Biosciences.

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading neuroimmunolgy company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics to treat diseases and disorders of the central nervous and immune system such as anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's disease, obesity and multiple sclerosis.

The statements in this press release that relate to the continuation of the Company's collaboration with Rigel, Inc., the potential acceleration of the Company's drug development efforts, and the potential development of commercial products are forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, that research and development will continue under Neurocrine's collaboration with Rigel, Inc. in a timely manner consistent with Neurocrine's objectives, that development candidates will successfully proceed through early stage clinical trials, that development candidates will prove effective for treatment in humans in later stage clinical trials, the timely receipt of regulatory clearances required for clinical testing, manufacturing and marketing of products, and the potential impact of competitive technologies and potential products. For a discussion of the other risks and uncertainties potentially affecting the Company's business, see the Company 's form 1OK for the year ending December 31, 1996. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements as a result of these and other factors. SOURCE Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.
CONTACT: Elizabeth Foster or Paul Hawran, both of Neurocrine Biosciences, 619-658-7600