PRESS RELEASES

Net Product Sales Increased 9% Over 2007 to $765.3 Million; Positive Operating Cash Flow Targeted By End of 2010

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. The Company reported total revenue of $202.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, which includes net product sales of $184.9 million. Net loss, excluding a charge of $54.9 million associated with the Company's strategic restructuring and workforce reduction in the fourth quarter, was $49.1 million, or $0.36 per share. Non-GAAP operating loss, excluding non-cash items and the restructuring charge, was $20.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $47.0 million for the same period in 2007. GAAP net loss including the restructuring charge was $104.1 million, or $0.76 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company reported total revenue of $840.1 million, which includes net product sales of $765.3 million, a 9% increase over 2007. Net loss, excluding the restructuring charge of $54.9 million, was $260.5 million, or $1.90 per share. For the year ended December 31, 2008 non-GAAP operating loss, excluding non-cash items and the restructuring charge, was $137.2 million compared to $147.2 million for the same period in 2007. GAAP net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $315.4 million, or $2.30 per share. At December 31, 2008 the Company held cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $816.8 million.

"In 2008, we continued to deliver year over year revenue growth in a challenging market environment," said Daniel M. Bradbury, president and chief executive officer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. "In 2009, we will create value for patients and our shareholders by capitalizing on key market drivers, such as the American Diabetes Association's inclusion of BYETTA as the only new addition to their treatment guidelines. Our focus remains on increasing BYETTA revenue, submitting the New Drug Application (NDA) for exenatide once weekly, significantly improving operating results and progressing toward positive operating cash flow by the end of 2010."

Quarter ended December 31, 2008

Net product sales of $184.9 million for the quarter include sales of $162.7 million for BYETTA(R) (exenatide) injection and $22.2 million for SYMLIN(R) (pramlintide acetate) injection. This compares to net product sales of $194.7 million, consisting of $176.3 million for BYETTA and $18.4 million for SYMLIN for the same period in 2007.

Revenue under collaborative agreements was $17.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $27.3 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease reflects lower cost-sharing payments from Eli Lilly and Company for BYETTA and exenatide once weekly development expenses.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $86.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 from $122.4 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease primarily reflects lower promotional spending for BYETTA and the Company's reduced cost structure following its restructuring.

Research and development expenses decreased to $67.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 from $83.9 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease primarily reflects lower development expenses for exenatide once weekly and the Company's reduced cost structure following its restructuring.

Collaborative profit sharing, which represents Lilly's share of the gross margin for BYETTA, was $73.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $78.6 million for the same period in 2007.

The Company's results for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 include a charge of $54.9 million associated with the Company's restructuring. This charge consists primarily of one-time expenses related to facility leases, including impairments of related tenant improvements and employee termination benefits. Net loss excluding this charge was $49.1 million, or $0.36 per share. Non-GAAP operating loss, excluding non-cash items and the restructuring charge, was $20.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $47.0 million for the same period in 2007. Including the restructuring charge, GAAP net loss was $104.1 million, or $0.76 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, compared to $76.9 million, or $0.57 per share, for the same period in 2007.

Fourth quarter highlights
Highlights of Amylin's fourth quarter and recent activities include:

BYETTA

• Communicated the addition of BYETTA to the American Diabetes Association's treatment guidelines for the medical management of type 2 diabetes.

• Announced that the ongoing extension of the DURATION-1 study is appropriate to use as the basis for demonstrating comparability between intermediate-scale clinical trial material made in Alkermes' manufacturing facility, and commercial-scale drug product made at Amylin's manufacturing facility based on feedback from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Reaffirmed plans for exenatide once weekly NDA submission to the FDA by the end of the first half of 2009.
• Completed enrollment of DURATION-3, the third in a planned program of superiority clinical studies of exenatide once weekly, comparing exenatide once weekly to insulin glargine in patients using oral diabetes medications. Results from this study are expected in the third quarter of 2009.
• Initiated DURATION-4 clinical study, comparing exenatide once weekly as a monotherapy treatment to either metformin, a thiazolidinedione (TZD) or a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. Results from this study are expected in 2010.

• Implemented a strategic restructuring that reduced the Company's San Diego workforce by approximately 25 percent, and announced plans to have a positive operating cash flow (defined as positive non-GAAP operating results) by the end of 2010.

• Presented novel data on Amylin's promising obesity pipeline at The Obesity Society's Scientific Conference that supported the therapeutic potential of the integrated neurohormonal approach to obesity pharmacotherapy.

Year ended December 31, 2008

Total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $840.1 million. This includes net product sales of $765.3 million, consisting of $678.5 million for BYETTA and $86.8 million for SYMLIN. This compares to total revenue of $781.0 million for the same period in 2007, including net product sales of $701.5 million consisting of $636.0 million for BYETTA and $65.5 million for SYMLIN.

Revenues under collaborative agreements were $74.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to $79.5 million for the same period in 2007. Revenues under collaborative agreements consist primarily of cost-sharing payments from Lilly for BYETTA and exenatide once weekly development expenses. Collaborative revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007 included $15.0 million in milestones earned primarily upon Lilly's launch of BYETTA in the European Union.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $395.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 from $391.0 million for the same period in 2007. Selling general and administrative expenses consist of continued investments in promotional spending for BYETTA and SYMLIN and business infrastructure to support the Company's operations.

Research and development expenses increased to $293.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 from $276.6 million for the same period in 2007. The increase primarily reflects continued investments in exenatide once weekly and the Company's obesity development programs.

Collaborative profit sharing, which represents Lilly's 50% share of BYETTA gross margin, was $302.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $290.9 million for the same period in 2007.

Non-GAAP operating loss, excluding non-cash items and the restructuring charge, was $137.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $147.2 million for the same period in 2007. Net loss excluding the restructuring charge was $260.5 million, or $1.90 per share. GAAP net loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $315.4 million, or $2.30 per share, compared to $211.1 million, or $1.59 per share for the same period in 2007.

Conference Call

Amylin will webcast its Quarterly Update Conference Call today at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT. The call will be webcast live through Amylin's corporate Web site, www.amylin.com, and a recording will be made available following the close of the call.

Daniel M. Bradbury, Amylin's president and chief executive officer, will lead the call. During the call, the Company plans to provide further details underlying its fourth quarter and 2008 financial results, and information regarding guidance for 2009 operations. For those without access to the Internet, the live call may be accessed by phone by calling (888) 713-4209 (U.S./Canada) or (617) 213-4863 (international), Conference ID# 59487694. A replay of the call will also be available by phone beginning approximately two hours after the close of the call and can be accessed at (888) 286-8010 (U.S./Canada) or (617) 801-6888 (international), Conference ID# 22593977.

Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Amylin reports non-GAAP operating loss excluding non-cash items and other one-time items, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that investors' understanding of its progress towards its stated goal of generating positive non-GAAP operating results by the end of 2010 is enhanced by this disclosure. Amylin also reports non-GAAP, research and development expenses net of cost-sharing payments, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company believes that investors' understanding of Amylin's net investment in research and development activities is enhanced by this disclosure. In addition, the Company refers to this non-GAAP financial information with its analysis of the Company's financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

About Amylin

Amylin Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines. Amylin has developed and gained approval for two first-in-class medicines for diabetes, SYMLIN(R) (pramlintide acetate) injection and BYETTA(R) (exenatide) injection. Amylin's research and development activities leverage the Company's expertise in metabolism to develop potential therapies to treat diabetes and obesity. Amylin is headquartered in San Diego, California. Further information on Amylin Pharmaceuticals is available at www.amylin.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements about Amylin, which involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including risks that BYETTA or SYMLIN may be affected by competition, unexpected new data, technical issues, or manufacturing and supply issues; risks that our financial results may fluctuate significantly from period to period and may not meet market expectations; risks that any financial guidance we provide may not be accurate; risks that our clinical trials will not be completed when planned or may not replicate previous results; risks that our preclinical studies may not be predictive; risks that our NDAs for product candidates or sNDAs for label expansion requests, such as the exenatide once weekly NDA mentioned in this press release, may not be submitted timely or receive FDA approval; risks that our expense reductions will not be as large as we expect; risks that we may not be able to complete our manufacturing facility on a timely basis; and other risks inherent in the drug development and commercialization process. Commercial and government reimbursement and pricing decisions and the pace of market acceptance may also affect the potential for BYETTA or SYMLIN. These and additional risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the Company's recently filed Form 10-Q. Amylin disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

                          (financial information to follow)




                          AMYLIN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                      (in thousands, except per share data)
                                   (unaudited)


                            Quarter ended December 31, Year ended December 31,
                                   2008      2007        2008       2007

    Revenues:
      Net product sales          $184,922  $194,719    $765,342   $701,450
      Revenues under
       collaborative agreements    17,569    27,319      74,767     79,547
    Total revenues                202,491   222,038     840,109    780,997

    Costs and expenses:
      Cost of goods sold           21,495    22,135      91,596     65,457
      Selling, general and
       administrative              86,105   122,356     395,112    390,982
      Research and development     67,022    83,888     293,095    276,600
      Collaborative profit
       sharing                     73,182    78,606     302,600    290,934
      Restructuring                54,926         -      54,926          -
    Total costs and expenses      302,730   306,985   1,137,329  1,023,973

    Operating loss               (100,239)  (84,947)   (297,220)  (242,976)

    Interest (expense) income,
     net                           (3,832)    8,006      (3,242)    31,840
    Loss on impairment of
     equity method and
     available for sale
     investments                        -         -     (14,943)         -

    Net loss                    $(104,071) $(76,941)  $(315,405) $(211,136)

    Net loss per share - basic
     and diluted                   $(0.76)   $(0.57)     $(2.30)    $(1.59)

    Shares used in computing
     net loss per share - basic
     and diluted                  137,623   134,896     137,006    132,621

A reconciliation of reported GAAP net loss to non-GAAP operating loss excluding non-cash items, and other one-time items is provided in the table that follows (in thousands, unaudited):

                        Quarter ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
                                2008       2007        2008        2007

    GAAP operating loss      $(100,239) $(84,947)   $(297,220) $(242,976)

    Stock-based compensation    12,104    14,837       55,115     59,064
    Other non-cash
     compensation                5,833    18,425       24,680     21,693
    Depreciation and
     amortization                7,161     4,700       25,280     15,049
    Restructuring               54,926         -       54,926          -

    Non-GAAP operating loss   $(20,215) $(46,985)   $(137,219) $(147,170)

A reconciliation of reported GAAP research and development expenses to non-GAAP research and development expenses, net of cost-sharing payments, is provided in the table that follows (in thousands, unaudited):

                              Quarter ended          Year ended
                               December 31,          December 31,
                               2008    2007         2008    2007

    GAAP research and
     development expenses    $67,022  $83,888     $293,095  $276,600
    Cost-sharing payments    (16,498) (26,248)     (70,481)  (60,261)

    Non-GAAP research and
     development expenses,
     net of cost sharing
     payments                $50,524  $57,640     $222,614  $216,339



                             AMYLIN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (in thousands)
                                     (unaudited)

                                                 December 31,   December 31,
                                                     2008           2007
    Assets
     Cash, cash equivalents and
      short-term investments                        $816,838     $1,130,415
     Accounts receivable, net                         62,369         73,579
     Inventories, net                                115,823        100,214
     Other current assets                             41,038         32,100
     Property, plant and equipment, net              636,922        390,301
     Other assets                                     39,639         47,602
         Total assets                             $1,712,629     $1,774,211

    Liabilities and stockholders' equity
     Current liabilities                            $313,778       $287,284
     Other liabilities, net of current
      portion                                        179,227         34,109
     Long-term debt, net of current
      portion                                        868,750        900,000
     Stockholders' equity                            350,874        552,818
             Total liabilities and stockholders'
              equity                              $1,712,629     $1,774,211

SOURCE Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CONTACT:
media
Alice Izzo
+1-858-642-7272
alice.izzo@amylin.com
or
investors
Michael York
+1-858-458-8602
michael.york@amylin.com
both of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.amylin.com