BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. PROVIDES UPDATE ON ORAL INFLUENZA NEURAMINIDASE INHIBITOR PROGRAM WITH THE R.W. JOHNSON PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

October 12, 2000
BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. PROVIDES UPDATE ON ORAL INFLUENZA NEURAMINIDASE INHIBITOR PROGRAM WITH THE R.W. JOHNSON PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE Birmingham, Alabama – October 12, 2000 – BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: BCRX) today provided an update on the progress of its influenza neuraminidase inhibitor program with The R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute (RWJPRI), a Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) company. BioCryst was notified yesterday afternoon that, “due solely to logistical considerations, The R.W. Johnson Research Institute will not be in a position during this influenza season to initiate two clinical studies in the Northern Hemisphere for our influenza neuraminidase inhibitor in elderly patients.” RWJPRI also added that, “ we anticipate proceeding as planned with the pivotal Phase III clinical studies of RWJ-270201 in the Northern hemisphere during this influenza season.” RWJPRI also informed BioCryst that it is unlikely they will be able to file a new drug application (NDA) for RWJ-270201 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before 2002.

Founded in 1986, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of infectious, inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases and disorders. BioCryst’s most advanced drug candidate, RWJ-270201 (formerly known as BCX-1812), is a neuraminidase inhibitor designed to treat and prevent viral influenza. The Company licensed this drug candidate to RWJPRI and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., both Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) companies.

These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, The R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute (RWJPRI) and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.’s progress with respect to our influenza neuraminidase inhibitors and developments with respect to clinical trials and the regulatory approval process. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, that the FDA may not accept RWJPRI’s clinical protocols, that any Phase III clinical trials may not be successful or be pivotal in nature, that an NDA might not be filed in 2002 or ever, or that our license with RWJPRI and Ortho-McNeil might be terminated. Even if RWJPRI completes the Phase III clinical trials, we do not know when, if ever, it will receive FDA or foreign regulatory agency approvals for, or when Ortho-McNeil will begin marketing of, RWJ-270201.

Contact: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. W. Randall Pittman, Chief Financial Officer A.K. Schleusner, Director, Business Development (205) 444-4600