Cellcept

VICTORIA, Nov. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ: ASPV; TSX: ASV), today reported that the results of Dr. Ellen M. Ginzler's investigator initiated trial (IIT) comparing orally administered mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept(R)) to intravenous cyclophosphamide as induction therapy for active lupus nephritis were published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 353, Number 21, November 24, 2005 in a paper entitled, "Mycophenolate Mofetil or Intravenous Cyclophosphamide for Lupus Nephritis".

This investigator initiated trial was funded by the grants program of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Orphan Products Development, with supplemental funding from Roche, the manufacturer of CellCept. The principal investigator is Ellen M. Ginzler, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Medicine and Chief of Rheumatology at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn.

Based on Ginzler's IIT and acceptance of Aspreva's study protocol by regulatory authorities, the Company moved forward with its global phase III Aspreva Lupus Management Study (ALMS). The first patient in this study was treated in July 2005, and completion of the induction phase of the trial is expected in late 2006. Aspreva intends to include the data from Dr. Ginzler's IIT to supplement the results of the Company's trial in its applications for approval with regulatory authorities.

About Lupus Nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own tissues and joints.

Lupus nephritis is the most serious manifestation of the disease which, if left untreated, can lead to kidney failure requiring dialysis. It is a complicated disease as patients typically fluctuate between periods of intense disease activity when the patient's own immune system is actively attacking and causing damage in their kidney, interspersed with periods of remission. Clinicians estimate that one third to one half of lupus patients have lupus nephritis.

There has been no new approved treatment for SLE or lupus nephritis in over thirty years. Current treatments involve the off-label use of existing cancer drugs such as cyclophosphamide, steroids, and other immunosuppressant drugs such as azathioprine.

About CellCept

CellCept is an immunosuppressant or "anti-rejection" drug used in combination with other immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine and corticosteroids) for the prevention of rejection in patients receiving heart, kidney and liver transplants. CellCept was first approved for use in combination therapy for the prevention of acute organ rejection in kidney transplantation in 1995 and has since been approved worldwide for prevention of organ rejection in adult kidney, heart and liver transplantation. In some countries, it has also been approved for paediatric kidney transplantation. This therapeutic success represents 10 years of clinical experience and patient benefits, including reduced toxicities and prolonged graft and patient survival. Over the last decade, CellCept has become the world's most widely studied immunosuppressant and research is ongoing both in organ transplantation and related areas, such as autoimmune disease, to help provide clinical benefit to a wider range of patients.

CellCept is not currently approved for the treatment of either lupus erythematosus or lupus nephritis.

About Aspreva Pharmaceuticals

Aspreva is an emerging pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and, upon regulatory approval, commercializing new indications for approved drugs and late stage drug candidates for patients living with less common diseases. Aspreva's "Indication Partnering" strategy allows its partners to maintain core brand focus while extending the benefits of their medicines to a broader patient population. Aspreva is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the trading symbol "ASPV" and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "ASV".

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These include without limitation statements related to our clinical trials, product candidates and operations. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "projects," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward- looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and we may not actually achieve the plans, approvals, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to the progress, timing and results of our clinical trials, our ability to attract and retain collaborations relating to the development and commercialization of new indications, intellectual property matters, difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approval, the FDA may finally determine that the design and planned analysis of our clinical trail do not adequately address the trial objectives in support of our regulatory submission, competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Aspreva undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date hereof.

CONTACT: Sage Baker, Director, Corporate Communications, Aspreva Pharmaceuticals, (250) 744-2488 ext. 270, sbaker@aspreva.com

COPYRIGHT 2005 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group