ACTION PHARMA LAUNCHES A PHASE II CLINICAL TRIAL WITH AP 214 FOR THE TREATMENT OF ORGAN FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH MAJOR CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY.

Copenhagen, June 25, 2008

Action Pharma A/S, a Danish biotech company, today announces that it has initiated phase II clinical trials with one of its lead compounds AP 214.

AP214 is developed for treatment of organ failure associated with severe cardiovascular diseases. A clinical trial has been launched in the USA focusing on organ protection in connection with major surgery for life-threatening cardiovascular diseases. Specifically AP214 is targeted at the treatment of patients undergoing cardiac or vascular surgery in risk of renal failure. AP214 mediate its action through melanocortin receptors, a new pharmaceutical target in such indications and is expected to prevent both ischemia and reperfusion injuries

“The initiation of the phase II clinical trial is a major milestone in the development of the drug candidate pipeline of Action Pharma, says Søren Nielsen, MD, DMSci, CEO of Action Pharma.
“We now have two compounds in clinical development.”

“With two more compounds targeted for clinical development in 2009 the clinical development team of Action Pharma has done a fantastic job in executing our clinical development plans and I strongly believe that Action Pharma has a unique pipeline and outstanding business development potentials.”

The clinical trial is being conducted at Shands Hospital, University of Florida one of the leading sites internationally in the fields of cardiovascular and renal disease. The study expects to enroll approximately 75 patients. The study is a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled dosefinding Phase II trial in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. AP214 is being developed to potentially prevent post-surgical kidney injury after thoracic surgery.

More than 150,000 patients in the US and EU undergo major cardiovascular surgery every year. Approximately 15% of patients that undergo cardiac surgery experience kidney injury which is heavily associated with increased mortality, morbitity and prolonged stays in ICU. There is currently no treatment available for these patients.

Action Pharma A/S has major scientific expertice in the area of kidney disease and renal protection in cardiovascular diseases. The Company is dedicated to the development of novel drugs for the treatment of organ failure, type 2 diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

Currently Action Pharma has 7 drug candidates in development with two drug candidates in clinical development. In addition to AP214, now entering phase II clinical trials, AP1030 is developed for treatment of Type 2 diabetes. AP1030 has successfully completed a safety and tolerability study in Sweden and the second Phase I trial in the target population will be completed in France in Q3 2008. Two additional drug candidates will enter clinical development mid 2009.

For further information, please contact:
Søren Nielsen, CEO, Action Pharma A/S
Dronninggaards Alle 136
DK-2840 Holte, Denmark
sn@actionpharma.com
Phone: +45 23244533

About Action Pharma A/S
Action Pharma A/S is a Danish biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel drugs with significant therapeutic improvement within inadequately treated cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The core therapeutic focus of the company is organ failure, Type II diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory diseases.

The main strategy is to bring drug candidates into clinical trials for subsequent partnering with major pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Action Pharma has a pipeline of 7 patent protected drug candidates of which two are in clinical development and additional two will enter clinical development in 2009.

Action Pharma has a strong investor base of leading European investors. For more information, please visit www.actionpharma.com