LT. GOV. JOHNSON OFFICIALLY WELCOMES AMYLIN
California-based biotech firm meets with officials at West Chester facility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Lt. Governor Bruce Johnson today joined local economic development leaders and company officials from Amylin Ohio LLC in a ceremony to begin renovations on its recently selected location for a new production facility in West Chester, located in Butler County. The facility will be used to manufacture medication to treat diabetes.

“Amylin’s decision to launch their manufacturing capabilities in West Chester is evidence that businesses across the country and around the world are recognizing Ohio’s improved business climate,” said Johnson, who also serves as director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Amylin is exactly the type of high-tech company we want here, helping to grow Ohio’s biosciences industry.”

In December, Amylin announced it had acquired an existing 150,000 square foot building and 26 acres of land on Trade Port Drive in West Chester. Today’s ceremony marked the beginning of upgrades to be made to the facility for the purposes of pharmaceutical production. Based in San Diego, Amylin is establishing its first production facility for a long-acting release (LAR) formulation of exenatide, a product candidate in development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The $150 million project is expected to create more than 50 jobs during its first three years of operation.

“This is truly a monumental day in the life of our company and, we hope, something that will change the lives of millions of people living with diabetes around the world,” said Ginger L. Graham, President and CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “We are also very pleased with the cooperation and resources available to us in Ohio and Butler County, and look forward to building relationships within the community.”

Graham cited Ohio’s recent tax reform as one factor in the company’s location decision. The reform is eliminating the tax on tangible personal property, eliminating Ohio’s corporate franchise tax and reducing personal income tax by 21%. It also makes Ohio an ideal location from which to reach the North American marketplace by exempting sales to locations outside Ohio from the state’s commercial activities tax.

On December 9, 2005, in London, Amylin was awarded the inaugural SCRIP award for the Biotech Company of the Year, for bringing to market two novel antidiabetic drugs. Further information on Amylin and its pipeline in metabolism is available at www.amylin.com.