For more information visit Planview Planview Enterprise Planview OpenSuite Planview PRISMS and thePlanview logo mark are trademarks or registered trademarks of Planview

For more information, visit Planview, Planview Enterprise, Planview OpenSuite, Planview PRISMS, and thePlanview logo mark are trademarks or registered trademarks of Planview, Inc. Allother product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks oftheir respective owners.for PlanviewLauren Sell, Copyright Business Wire 2009. First and Only Drug Therapy Indicated for Macular Edema Associated with RetinalVein Occlusion (RVO)IRVINE, Calif.–(Business Wire)–Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) today announced that the United States Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) has approved OZURDEX? (dexamethasone intravitreal implant)0.7 mg as the first drug therapy indicated for the treatment of macular edemafollowing branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO).

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO), including BRVO and CRVO, is the secondmost common retinal vascular disease after diabetic retinopathy1 and is asignificant cause of vision loss. OZURDEX? is a first-of-its kind therapy administered via intravitreal injectiondelivering dexamethasone, a highly potent corticosteroid, via Allergan`sproprietary and innovative NOVADUR? solid polymer delivery system. Via theNOVADUR? delivery system, OZURDEX?, a biodegradable implant which enables theextended release and effect of dexamethasone, is placed in the vitreous cavityin the back of the eye treating the macular edema associated with RVO, therebyimproving a patient`s visual acuity. With OZURDEX?, patients can achieve high concentrations of dexamethasone toreduce macular edema associated with RVO, while relying on the delivery of aconsistent low level of dexamethasone to maintain edema control and enhancesafety. “OZURDEX? represents the first injectable, sustained-release, potent steroidimplant that provides prolonged efficacy and a favorable safety profile. In theclinical studies, 20 to 30 percent of patients suffering from this severeretinal condition experienced a 3-line improvement in best-corrected visualacuity with an onset of effect within the first two months following therapy2,”said Scott Whitcup, M.D., Allergan`s Executive Vice President, Research andDevelopment and Chief Scientific Officer. “With our nearly 60-year leadershipand research investment in eye care, we are pleased to enter the retina marketand provide physicians and their patients with the first FDA-approved drugtreatment for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion.” The efficacy of OZURDEX? was assessed in two multi-center, double-masked,randomized parallel studies involving approximately 1,300 patients.

In eachindividual study and in a pooled analysis, time to achieve a ? 15 letter(3-line) improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) cumulative responserate curves were significantly faster with the OZURDEX? implant compared to sham(p < 0.01) with OZURDEX? treated patients achieving a 3-line improvement in BCVAearlier than sham-treated patients.2The onset of effect with OZURDEX?, defined as a ? 15 letter (3-line) improvementin BCVA, occurred within the first two months after implantation inapproximately 20 to 30 percent of subjects. The duration of effect persistedapproximately one to three months after onset.2"RVO is a common condition in patients 40 years of age and older and if leftuntreated can lead to vision loss. In the United States alone, more than 150,000new cases of RVO are diagnosed each year3," said Mark S. Blumenkranz, M.D.,professor and chairman, department of ophthalmology, Stanford University, PaloAlto, California.

“This new therapy provides physicians with a meaningfuladvancement in treating RVO, offering a convenient option to patients throughits unique extended delivery profile.” OZURDEX? will be administered as an in-office procedure. The treatment isexpected to be available to physicians and patients in the United States in thethird quarter of 2009. About Macular Edema Caused by Retina Vein Occlusion (RVO)Macular edema is an eye disease where the macula swells and thickens due tofluid accumulating or leaking from retinal veins into the macula, located at theback of the eye When the macula thickens, vision may become impaired. Ifswelling is caused by retinal vein leakage over a prolonged period of time,permanent visual loss may result.