Onset Therapeutics expands sales force by over 50% in 2010

Onset Therapeutics, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused in dermatology, today announced the completion of the Company's latest sales force expansion initiative designed to provide national dermatology coverage to support the success of two recently launched products and the Company's rapidly growing pipeline of products in various stages of development.

“We will continue to support our strong pipeline with a growing commercial organization”

The Company has expanded its sales force by over 50% in 2010 as a direct result of the continued growth of the Company's currently marketed products, including BenzEFoam™ Emollient Foam for the treatment of acne and Hylatopic® Emollient Foam for the treatment of various dermatoses. Both products were launched in the second half of 2009. The Company has supported the growth of these products with recent clinical results demonstrating the efficacy and versatility of applying BenzEFoam™ as either a leave-on or short contact therapy, and data from a split body study in patients with atopic dermatitis which demonstrates superior patient preference and patient perceived efficacy for Hylatopic® compared to a leading prescription brand.

The Company is also announcing significant progress in the development of its product pipeline. COL-177, in development for the treatment of acne, has successfully undergone initial human trials and the Company has begun preparing its phase III program. A second pipeline product, COL-179, is in development for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions and has advanced to the clinical development stage. COL-177 and COL-179 are both formulated using the Company's novel and proprietary Delevo® Foam Technology developed to deliver active pharmaceutical ingredients in a unique emollient foam base designed to enhance patient acceptability and tolerability, which are believed to promote increased patient compliance. In addition to these two programs, the Company has also advanced several other topical products in the development process and has multiple products pending FDA approval.

"We are pleased with our rapid growth and ability to recruit talented, experienced sales representatives," stated Doug Abel, General Manager of Onset Therapeutics. "We will continue to support our strong pipeline with a growing commercial organization".

"The development of topical products with superior formulation characteristics offering unique clinical advantages by utilizing our core strengths in formulation technology, manufacturing and clinical development has been the hallmark of the success of Onset to date," said Michael Heffernan, President of Onset Therapeutics. "We will continue to invest in the growth of our commercial organization to support our robust product portfolio".

The Company is actively pursuing in-licensing, co-development and co-promotion opportunities in its core therapeutic and customer segments.