PennyPerformers.com: "Penny Stocks that Perform" picks are: AMLN, BMRN, DARA, DSCO, PGYC

Mar 30, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- PGYC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Pennyperformers.com "Penny Stocks that Perform" picks are: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN), BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN), DARA BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: DARA), Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSCO), Patriot Energy Corporation (PINKSHEETS: PGYC)...and Proudly Introducing Proprietary Push Technology (PPT).

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March 30, 2009 -- Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) today announced its director nominees for election at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Over the past several months, the Company's Corporate Governance Committee, in consultation with other independent directors, engaged in a rigorous process to identify a slate of highly qualified and experienced nominees that the Board strongly believes will best serve the interests of all Amylin stockholders. This included obtaining input from many of our stockholders and a review of potential nominees, including those proposed by stockholders and those identified by an independent search firm.

The two new independent nominees to the Board are Paul N. Clark, former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Icos Corporation and Paulo F. Costa, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Novartis U.S. Corporation. Both Mr. Clark and Mr. Costa possess valuable commercial and operational expertise in the biopharmaceutical industry, which will serve to augment the strengths of the Board.

Mr. Clark has served as an Operating Partner of Genstar Capital since 2007. Prior to joining Genstar, he served in numerous capacities at Icos Corporation, including Director, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board where he led the company through a period of considerable growth, including the successful commercialization of Cialis(R) (tadalafil). Mr. Clark also worked in key capacities for Abbott Laboratories, retiring from Abbott as Executive Vice President and a Board member. Mr. Clark has pharmaceutical commercialization expertise and broad experience in sales, marketing and operational roles with numerous healthcare and pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Clark received his M.B.A. from Dartmouth College and his B.S. in Finance from the University of Alabama.

Mr. Costa held many roles at Novartis, including President and Chief Executive Officer of Novartis U.S. Corporation, Head of the Americas, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation. Prior to joining Novartis, Mr. Costa worked at Johnson & Johnson for 30 years, where he served as President of Janssen Pharmaceutica, Executive Vice President, Global Franchise Development, and was a member of Johnson & Johnson's Group Operating Committee. Mr. Costa has held various sales and marketing positions and has more than 20 years of general management experience, having launched 10 pharmaceutical products in various therapeutic areas in the U.S. market. Mr. Costa earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and is a graduate of the Sao Paulo School of Business Administration.

In addition to the new nominees, the Company is nominating current directors Adrian Adams, Steven R. Altman, Teresa Beck, Daniel M. Bradbury, Joseph C. Cook, Jr., Karin Eastham, James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D., Jay S. Skyler, M.D., Joseph P. Sullivan and James N. Wilson for re-election. With their broad range of expertise, diverse perspectives, and in-depth knowledge of Amylin's business, these directors will continue to serve the best interests of all Amylin stockholders.

"We are confident that this is the right slate to represent the interests of all our stockholders and to ensure that Amylin is well positioned for sustainable long-term success," said James N. Wilson, Lead Independent Director of Amylin's Board. "We engaged in a thorough and comprehensive process to assemble this slate. After considerable evaluation, we identified these nominees as those most qualified to serve the needs of the Company and maximize value for all Amylin stockholders."

Two current directors, Howard E. (Ted) Greene, Jr. and Ginger L. Graham, will not stand for re-election this year. The Company greatly appreciates Mr. Greene's and Ms. Graham's many years of dedicated service to build and grow the Company, both as directors and former leaders of Amylin.

Stockholders may review more detailed biographies of all Amylin's nominees in the Company's preliminary proxy statement filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Amylin Pharmaceuticals

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.

March 30, 2009 -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: BMRN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) announced today that it has received a notice from the United States Patent Office reporting allowance of claims covering once daily dosing methods for Kuvan(R) (sapropterin dihydrochloride) in the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). The company expects that the patent will be officially issued later this year, and if issued, the patent's initial 20-year term would expire in 2024. The company has a number of other pending patent applications covering various aspects of Kuvan compositions and dosing.

"We believe the issuance of this patent will be significant in strengthening our proprietary position on Kuvan," said Jean-Jacques Bienaime, Chief Executive Officer of BioMarin. "This patent would prevent potential competitors from using or copying Kuvan's approved dosing regimen. Based on the claims allowed by the USPTO, we believe that the once daily dosing regimen will prevent therapeutically equivalent generic competition to Kuvan while the patent is in force."

About Kuvan

Kuvan (sapropterin dihydrochloride) Tablets are indicated in the United States to reduce blood phenylalanine (Phe) levels in patients with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) due to tetrahydrobiopterin- (BH4-) responsive phenylketonuria (PKU). Kuvan is to be used in conjunction with a Phe-restricted diet.

The active ingredient in Kuvan, sapropterin dihydrochloride, is the synthetic form of 6R-BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin), a naturally occurring enzyme cofactor that works in conjunction with phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) to metabolize Phe.

Kuvan has received orphan drug designation from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). Kuvan has received seven years of orphan exclusivity in the United States and ten years of market exclusivity in the E.U.

About PKU

PKU, a genetic disorder affecting approximately 50,000 diagnosed patients in the developed world, is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. PAH is required for the metabolism of phenylalanine, an essential amino acid found in most protein-containing foods. If the active enzyme is not present in sufficient quantities, Phe accumulates to abnormally high levels in the blood and becomes toxic to the brain, resulting in a variety of complications including severe mental retardation and brain damage, mental illness, seizures, tremors, and limited cognitive ability. As a result of newborn screening efforts implemented in the 1960s and early 1970s, virtually all PKU patients under the age of 40 in developed countries have been diagnosed at birth.

About BioMarin

BioMarin develops and commercializes innovative biopharmaceuticals for serious diseases and medical conditions. The company's product portfolio comprises three approved products and multiple clinical and pre-clinical product candidates. Approved products include Naglazyme(R) (galsulfase) for mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI), a product wholly developed and commercialized by BioMarin; Aldurazyme(R) (laronidase) for mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I), a product which BioMarin developed through a 50/50 joint venture with Genzyme Corporation; and Kuvan(R) (sapropterin dihydrochloride) Tablets, a product for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU), developed in partnership with Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. Other product candidates include PEG-PAL (PEGylated recombinant phenylalanine ammonia lyase), which is currently in Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of PKU.

Mar 30, 2009 -- Today DARA BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: DARA | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) announced that two abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the annual American Diabetes Association ("ADA") Scientific Sessions to be held in New Orleans, LA, June 5-9, 2009. The presentations will provide details on the company's lead diabetes candidate DB959 which was cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for Phase 1 Clinical Studies, earlier this month.

The first abstract entitled "DB959, a Novel, Dual PPAR-delta/gamma Agonist with a Favorable Nonclinical Safety Profile" has been selected for a poster presentation in the session "Clinical Therapeutics/New Technology - Pharmacologic Treatment of Diabetes or its Complications" on June 6, 2009.

The second abstract entitled "DB959 is a Novel, Dual PPAR delta/gamma Agonist which Controls Glucose and Regulates Triglycerides and HDLc in Animal Models of T2D and Dyslipidemia" has been selected for an oral presentation in the session "New Treatments in Development" on June 8, 2009.

Mary Kay Delmedico, Ph.D., leader of the DB959 Program at DARA, said, "It is an honor to have the results of our work chosen by the ADA for presentation."

About DB959

Earlier this month, the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") cleared the Company's Investigational New Drug Application ("IND") for DB959, allowing DARA to commence Phase 1 studies in humans. DB959 is a unique, first-in-class dual peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ("PPAR") delta/gamma agonist and is intended for use in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) including addressing the abnormalities in cholesterol and triglycerides in these patients. The Company plans to develop DB959 as a once-a-day oral medication alone and in combination with other approved medicines. At the present time, DARA is in the process of evaluating strategies for raising additional capital and/or forming strategic partnerships to fund further clinical development.

The unique combination of the delta/gamma agonist activities gives this therapeutic candidate the potential to provide cardiovascular benefit to Type 2 diabetes patients. In non-clinical studies, DB959 demonstrated the potential to control blood sugar, raise good HDL cholesterol, lower triglycerides, lower total cholesterol and improve the HDL:LDL ratio. In addition, the IND-enabling non-clinical safety studies performed with DB959 suggest a more favorable safety profile than selective delta or gamma agonists or combination agonists with alpha activity, particularly with regard to cardiovascular safety. DB959 is a non-thiazolidinedione (non-TZD) and does not have PPAR-alpha activity and is unique from Avandia(r) and Actos(r) both in structure and activity.

About DARA BioSciences, Inc.

DARA BioSciences(tm), Inc. ("DARA") is a Raleigh, North Carolina based development-stage pharmaceutical company that acquires promising therapeutic small molecules and develops them through proof of concept in humans for subsequent sale or out-licensing to larger pharmaceutical companies. It has a portfolio of drug candidates for neuropathic pain, type 2 diabetes, and psoriasis.

Mar 30, 2009 -- Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: DSCO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) will present to the investment community at the BioCentury Future Leaders in the Biotech Industry Conference on Thursday, April 2, 2009. The presentation will highlight Discovery Labs' broad development pipeline of surfactant therapies to treat respiratory diseases.

Robert J. Capetola, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Labs, commented, "We are pioneering some of the most exciting science in the development of new surfactant applications and delivery approaches to improve respiratory critical care medicine. A variety of respiratory disorders are associated with surfactant deficiency or surfactant degradation. We believe that our proprietary technology platform makes it possible, for the first time, to develop a significant pipeline of therapeutic surfactant products, targeted to treat a wide range of respiratory conditions."

Discovery Labs' novel proprietary KL4 surfactant technology produces a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant, a substance produced naturally in the lung and essential for survival and normal respiratory function. In addition, Discovery Labs' proprietary capillary aerosol generating technology (Capillary Aerosolization Technology) produces a consistent, dense surfactant aerosol with a defined particle size, to potentially deliver aerosolized KL4 surfactant to the distal lung.

Discovery Labs' Pipeline for Respiratory Disorders

Discovery Labs is focused initially on developing its pipeline to build a pediatric franchise that will potentially address several respiratory diseases affecting neonates and young children. Serious respiratory problems are some of the most prevalent medical issues facing premature infants in neonatal intensive care units. Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is one of the most common, acute, potentially life-threatening disorders with approximately 360,000 low birth weight premature infants at risk annually in the United States. Discovery Labs believes that the RDS market represents a significant opportunity from both a medical and business perspective.

* Surfaxin(r) (lucinactant) for the prevention of RDS is the first synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that, if approved, will represent an alternative to the currently approved animal-derived surfactants. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established April 17, 2009 as its target action date to complete its review and potentially grant marketing approval.

* Aerosurf(r) is KL4 surfactant in aerosolized form using Discovery Labs' proprietary Capillary Aerosolization Technology. Premature infants with RDS are treated with surfactants that are administered by means of invasive endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. The current RDS management approach, while life-saving, often results in serious respiratory conditions and complications due to the invasive method of administration. Aerosurf, if successfully developed, holds the promise to significantly expand the use of KL4 surfactant in pediatric respiratory medicine by providing neonatologists with a novel means of potentially delivering KL4 surfactant while avoiding the risks associated with invasive endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Discovery Labs has met with and received guidance from the FDA with respect to the design of its planned Phase 2 clinical program, which is expected to be initiated in late 2009 or early 2010.

* Surfaxin LS(tm) is the lyophilized formulation of Surfaxin, which is manufactured as a dry powder and reconstituted as a liquid prior to administration. Lyophilized KL4 surfactant has the potential to improve product flexibility and ease of use for healthcare practitioners, eliminate the need for cold-chain storage and may demonstrate characteristics that further improve product clinical performance. Discovery Labs is planning to meet with regulatory authorities this year with a view towards initiating a worldwide, late-stage clinical development program in 2010 for Surfaxin LS for the prevention of RDS.

* Discovery Labs is conducting a Phase 2 clinical trial to determine if treatment with Surfaxin improves lung function and reduces duration of mechanical ventilation in children up to two years of age suffering from Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF). ARF typically occurs following a serious respiratory infection such as respiratory-syncytial virus or influenza, leading to an impairment in lung function (including reduced levels of functional surfactant) and the need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation (no medications are currently approved for this debilitating condition).

Discovery Labs' technology platform is also being developed to target other pediatric and adult respiratory disorders associated with surfactant degradation for which there currently are limited or no approved therapies.

* Aerosolized KL4 surfactant has been selected for use in a Phase 2a clinical trial in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), potentially taking advantage of the mucomodulatory properties of KL4 surfactant.

This investigator-initiated study is being conducted at The University of North Carolina and is funded through a grant provided by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The trial is designed to evaluate whether aerosolized KL4 surfactant is safe and well tolerated in patients with mild to moderate CF lung disease, and to assess the short-term effectiveness of aerosolized KL4 surfactant. We anticipate the results from this trial in late 2009.

* Multiple proof-of-concept preclinical studies are ongoing employing Discovery Labs' KL4 surfactant and the Capillary Aerosolization Technology platform, in models of Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and to assess the potential of drug combination therapies (aerosolized KL4 surfactant in combination with other drug compounds) to address respiratory diseases such as COPD and CF.

Presentation Logistics

Discovery Labs' President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robert J.Capetola, is scheduled to present at 11:00 A.M. DST on Thursday, April 2, 2009 in New York. The conference will be simultaneously webcast over the Internet. The presentation will be available through a live audio webcast at http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireyeconflobby.zhtml?ticker=DSCO&item_id=2123884 or Discovery Labs' web site. A replay of the audio webcast will be available on both websites for thirty days.

About Discovery Labs

Discovery Laboratories, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing Surfactant Replacement Therapies (SRT) for respiratory diseases. Surfactants are produced naturally in the lungs and are essential for breathing. Discovery Labs' novel proprietary KL4 Surfactant Technology produces a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant. In addition, Discovery Labs' proprietary capillary aerosol generating technology produces a dense aerosol with a defined particle size, to potentially deliver aerosolized KL4 Surfactant to the deep lung. Discovery Labs believes that its proprietary technology platform makes it possible, for the first time, to develop a significant pipeline of surfactant products targeted to address a variety of respiratory diseases affecting neonatal, pediatric and adult patients.

Discovery Labs' lead product from its KL4 Surfactant pipeline is SURFAXIN(r) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome in premature infants. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established April 17, 2009 as its target action date to complete its review of this new drug application (NDA) and potentially grant marketing approval for SURFAXIN. AEROSURF(r), Discovery Labs' aerosolized KL4 Surfactant, is being developed to potentially obviate the need for intubation and conventional mechanical ventilation and holds the promise to significantly expand the use of surfactants in respiratory medicine.

Mar 30, 2009 -- Patriot Energy Corporation (PINKSHEETS: PGYC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) today confirmed that the board of directors has received a formal purchase offer from a Fortune 500 Corporation.

According to the company, the initial offer, which was structured as an all cash transaction, was short of the discounted cash valuation of the carbon credit trading revenue, which is estimated at $113,715,000 or approximately $0.57 per share. The company is continuing its negotiation and believes that an all cash purchase offer could be concluded shortly and is expected to be somewhere between the initial offer of $65,000,000 or 0.33 per share and the net discounted cash value of $113,715,000 or $0.57 per share. However, it should be noted that upon receipt of a new offer, several milestones will need to be met including a legal and technical due-diligence, and a shareholders meeting to seek acceptance of the offer. Management is very confident that the due-diligence both the legal and technical will be concluded without any issues. The Fortune 500 Company has requested that its name be kept confidential until such time as the offer is accepted by the board of directors and presented to shareholders for approval.

"We had been in discussions for sometime, but this sudden formal all cash offer did catch us a little by surprise" said Tony Bisante, President of Patriot Energy Corp. "We have a strong product, a sound business model and the green shift has forced the hands of many multi-nationals to action. Carbon credits and the reduction of America's dependence on foreign oil are strong advantages in the present and the future economy" further added Mr. Bisante.

About Patriot Energy Corporation

Patriot Energy Corp. is a management holding corporation, which owns a wholly owned subsidiary named TelTeck Solutions and owns a 99 year exclusive leased license agreement with Tectane Technologies Corporation for the Dual H2O Engine Oxygenator and New Tri-Brid Engine (Electric/Flex-Fuels/H2O) Technologies. Patriot Energy specializes in the development and marketing of energy efficient technologies with a focus on reducing America's dependence on Foreign Oil.

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