Lilly to Support Corcept's Clinical Study Evaluating the Ability of a GR-II Antagonist to Mitigate the Weight Gain Associated With Use of Atypical Antipsychotic Medications

    MENLO PARK, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Corcept Therapeutics
 Incorporated (Nasdaq:   CORT) today announced that it has signed an agreement
 with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) in which Lilly has agreed to support
 Corcept's proof of concept clinical study evaluating the ability of CORLUX(R),
 a GR-II antagonist, to mitigate weight gain associated with the use of
 olanzapine.  This study will be conducted with healthy male volunteers.
     Under the agreement, Lilly will supply olanzapine and pay for the study.
 Data resulting from the study will be shared with Lilly.  Neither Lilly nor
 Corcept intend to commercially pursue the use of CORLUX and olanzapine in
 combination.  The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of action
 of GR-II antagonists for mitigating weight gain associated with atypical
 antipsychotic medications.
     Corcept previously announced results from two preclinical studies
 conducted in a rat model of olanzapine induced weight gain. These studies
 demonstrated that CORLUX's GR-II antagonist action has the potential to both
 reduce the weight gain associated with olanzapine and to prevent the weight
 gain associated with the initiation of treatment with olanzapine.
     "Research into the mechanism of action of GR-II antagonists, like CORLUX,
 can help us better understand how to treat weight gain commonly associated
 with the use of many antipsychotic drugs," said Dr. Robert L. Roe, M.D.,
 President of Corcept. "Because findings in animal studies do not always
 translate into human experience, we are delighted that Lilly is willing to
 support our further exploration of the role of GR-II antagonists in mitigating
 weight gain in patients taking antipsychotic medications. If results of this
 proof of concept study are positive, we will be encouraged to pursue this line
 of research with our portfolio of specific GR-II antagonists even more
 aggressively."
 
     INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIO
     Corcept's primary activity continues to be the development of CORLUX for
 the treatment of the psychotic symptoms of psychotic major depression (PMD).
 Other metabolic and psychiatric diseases may be treated effectively with GR-II
 antagonists like CORLUX and the company has developed an extensive
 intellectual property portfolio that covers the treatment of these diseases,
 including the prevention of weight gain caused by the use of antipsychotic
 medications.  The company has also discovered and filed patents for GR-II
 specific compounds that do not block the progesterone receptor.  "Eventually,
 we hope to test and develop our new GR-II compounds in a wide variety of
 disorders," said Dr. Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., Corcept's CEO.
 
     ABOUT CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS INCORPORATED
     Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated is a pharmaceutical company engaged in
 the development of drugs for the treatment of severe psychiatric and
 neurological diseases.  Corcept's lead product, CORLUX, is currently in Phase
 III clinical trials for the treatment of the psychotic features of PMD.  The
 drug is administered orally to PMD patients once per day for seven days.
 CORLUX, a potent GR-II antagonist, appears to mitigate the effects of the
 elevated and abnormal release patterns of cortisol seen in PMD.  For
 additional information about the company, please visit www.corcept.com.
 
     Statements made in this news release other than statements of historical
 fact are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements
 relating to conducting a clinical study with Lilly. Forward-looking statements
 are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that
 might cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
 implied by such statements.  For example, there can be no assurances that the
 study will be initiated or completed, that the study will be successful, or
 that Corcept will decide to pursue further activities with respect to weight
 gain associated with olanzapine or other antipsychotic medications.  Other
 risk factors relating to the company and its business are set forth in the
 company's SEC filings, all of which are available from our website
 (www.corcept.com) or from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov).  We disclaim any
 intention or duty to update any forward-looking statement made in this news
 release.
 
 

SOURCE  Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated