"This is a significant step forward in our ability to bring this important therapy to patients," said Orville G. Kolterman, M.D., senior vice president of research and development, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. "We have a clear path forward and are working diligently to submit our response to the FDA in the next few weeks."

BYDUREON (pronounced by-DUR-ee-on) is the proposed brand name for exenatide once weekly. It is an investigational, extended-release medication for type 2 diabetes designed to deliver continuous therapeutic levels of exenatide in a single weekly dose. BYDUREON is a once-weekly formulation of exenatide, the active ingredient in BYETTA?® (exenatide) injection, which has been available in the U.S. since June 2005 and is used in approximately 60 countries worldwide to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. BYDUREON and BYETTA belong to the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class of medications.

The NDA for BYDUREON was submitted in May 2009 and accepted by the FDA in July 2009. It is based on data from the DURATION clinical trial program, as well as more than seven years of clinical experience with BYETTA.

SOURCE Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.