Napo to Present at Key Conference in China

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (Napo) which focuses on the development and commercialization of proprietary pharmaceuticals for the global marketplace in collaboration with local partners, is pleased to announce its participation in BioVeda China’s Annual Investor Meeting to be held in Shanghai, China on April 26, 2011. BioVeda is the first international venture capital firm dedicated to the life sciences industry in China and is an important investor in Napo. Napo’s lead product, crofelemer, is a first-in-class anti-secretory agent for the treatment of both chronic and acute watery diarrhea.

Overall drug sales in China are expected to increase from $40 billion now to $100 billion by 2015 according to a recent report by Citi. The report further states that the Chinese market is very attractive to drug companies because of its aging population, chronic disease growth, expanding health insurance coverage, urbanization and increased investment in rural healthcare services.

China represents an important market for Napo and its current partner, Luye Pharma Group Ltd. Napo plans to introduce crofelemer to the Chinese market for indications including pediatric diarrhea, adult acute infectious diarrhea and HIV-associated diarrhea. According to the Freedonia Group the market for anti-diarrheal agents in China exceeded $500 million in 2010 and is projected to grow to $1.2 billion by 2015.

Napo recently announced the appointment of Neelam Sekhri Feachem who joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Global Access and Alliances. Lady Feachem will work with Napo’s commercial partners, international NGO’s, donors and others in the global health community to ensure rapid and affordable access to Napo’s unique products. She will also be responsible for developing and managing alliances for Napo, including with its licensees.

“China represents a significant opportunity for Napo and for crofelemer,” said Lady Feachem. “We look forward to working with our current and future partners in China to ensure that this novel and life-saving product is available to all those in need.”

About Crofelemer

Napo’s proprietary patented gastrointestinal compound, crofelemer, is a first-in-class anti-secretory agent extracted from Croton lechleri, a medicinal plant sustainably harvested under fair trade working conditions from South America. Crofelemer is in various stages of clinical development for four distinct indications:

1. Crofelemer for HIV-related diarrhea (CRO-HIV) completed Phase 3; highly significant data recently released, NDA filing targeted for mid-2011.

2. Crofelemer for diarrhea predominant irritable bowel syndrome (CRO-IBS), Phase 2

3. Crofelemer for acute infectious/watery diarrhea (including cholera), (CRO-ID), Phase 2

4. Crofelemer for pediatric diarrhea (CRO-PED), Phase 1

The FDA has granted fast track status to crofelemer development for IBS- and HIV-related indications.

Pediatric Applications for Crofelemer

Diarrhea is the second largest killer of children globally. Dehydration from watery diarrhea causes death in approximately two million children under age 5 each year, and measurable morbidity in hundreds of millions more. Napo estimates that pediatric diarrhea is the largest market opportunity and need in developing and emerging markets. Napo has established a global advisory board of key opinion leaders to advise Napo in its development plans for the pediatric indication of crofelemer. In addition to its focus on the growing private sector of emerging markets, Napo has formed alliances with Direct Relief International and others to make crofelemer accessible to every child in need. This program is recognized as a Clinton Global Initiative.

About Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. focuses on the development and commercialization of proprietary pharmaceuticals for the global marketplace in collaboration with local partners. The company seeks partners in both traditional high-value markets as well as in the higher volume business models of emerging and developing economies. Napo was founded in November 2001 and is based in San Francisco, California, with a subsidiary in Mumbai, India.

In addition to crofelemer, Napo holds exclusive worldwide rights to novel small-molecule potential second-generation anti-secretory agents, which have been licensed to the company by the Regents of the University of California, and are the subject of NIAID funding. Napo is developing an early clinical stage/ready for Phase 2 product, NP-500, for the treatment of insulin-resistant diseases of Type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Napo has a library of approximately 2,300 medicinal plants.

Napo’s discovery process leverages the knowledge of traditional healers, or shamans, working in rain forest areas. The company provides benefit sharing to the cultures with which it works through a non-profit it established called the Healing Forest Conservancy, devoted to recognizing the intellectual contributions of indigenous knowledge, the conservation of biological diversity, indigenous cultures, and the basic human rights of those communities.

Please note: The materials provided herein contain projections and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such statements are just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: the cost and unpredictability of the duration and results of clinical trials and FDA approval; the possible impairment of, or inability to obtain, intellectual property rights and the costs of obtaining such rights from third parties; market acceptance for approved products; ability to secure the product; and generic and other competition and the need to acquire new products.

Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Lisa Conte, +1-415-516-2732
CEO
www.napopharma.com

Source: Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.