Nutropin Depot, First Long-Acting Dosage Form of Recombinant Growth Hormone, Now Available

Business Wire, June 28, 2000

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--June 28, 2000--Genentech, Inc. (NYSE:DNA) and Alkermes, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALKS) announced today that Nutropin Depot(TM) (somatropin (rDNA) for injectable suspension) -- the first long-acting dosage form of recombinant human growth hormone -- is being shipped today to the pediatric endocrine community in the United States. Nutropin Depot was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 23, 1999.

Nutropin Depot is a long-acting form of Genentech's human growth hormone using Alkermes' ProLease(R) injectable extended-release drug delivery system. Alkermes performs the manufacturing operations that convert Genentech's Nutropin (somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection) bulk product into the long-acting dosage form. Genentech will market the product in the United States.

Genentech, Inc. is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets human pharmaceuticals for significant unmet medical needs. Fourteen of the approved products of biotechnology stem from Genentech science. Genentech markets nine products directly in the United States. The company has headquarters in South San Francisco, California, and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DNA.

Alkermes is a leader in the development of products based on sophisticated drug delivery technologies. The Company has several areas of focus: (i) controlled, sustained release of injectable drugs lasting several days to several weeks, utilizing its ProLease(R), and Medisorb(R), technologies; (ii) the development of pharmaceutical products based on proprietary pulmonary drug delivery technologies utilizing its AIR technology; (iii) oral delivery of drugs using the RingCap(TM) and DST technologies, and (iv) the delivery of drugs into the brain past the blood-brain barrier, utilizing its Cereport(R) technology. In addition to its Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters, research and manufacturing facilities, Alkermes operates research and manufacturing facilities in Ohio and a medical affairs office in Cambridge, England.