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Addex Achieves Second Milestone in Parkinson´s Disease Collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc.

Data Confirm Non-Dopaminergic Approach to Treating Parkinson's Disease GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, 10 July 2009 - Allosteric modulation company Addex Pharmaceuticals (SIX:ADXN) announced today that the second preclinical milestone has been achieved in an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with Merck & Co., Inc. (through its affiliate Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Ltd). The collaboration is focused on developing an emerging type of drugs, called allosteric modulators, for treatment of Parkinson´s disease and other undisclosed indications. Allosteric modulators have broad potential to address important therapeutic targets; this collaboration with Merck is focused on developing drugs that specifically activate the metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4). The preclinical study showed the desired non-dopaminergic activity profile after oral administration of mGluR4 positive allosteric modulator (PAM) in an animal model of Parkinson´s disease.

“We are pleased that these preclinical data show such promise in the animal model used,” said Emmanuel Le Poul, head of the CNS Business Unit at Addex. “This work is a further validation of the target and the strength of our collaboration, as both teams have contributed to this achievement.”

“Innovative non-dopaminergic therapies represent a significant opportunity to address an important unmet medical need in Parkinson´s disease patients,” said Vincent Mutel, CEO of Addex. “We are proud that our allosteric modulation drug discovery and development platform has generated highly innovative products in Parkinson´s disease in addition to other important indications with unmet medical need including: gastroesophageal reflux disease, migraine, schizophrenia and anxiety.”

Addex will discuss the mGluR4 PAM collaboration and its clinical and preclinical stage allosteric modulator pipeline and discovery platform during its R&D Day on July 16, 2009. A webcast and recording of the Addex R&D Day will be made available at www.addexpharma.com.

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