36 Week Data for Contrave

In October 2006, Orexigen reported that the first cohort of patients testing its other obesity compound, Contrave™, continued to lose weight without an indication of the common diet "plateau" as they reached the 36 week mark of a phase III, multi-center clinical trial. Contrave is a combination of naltrexone and bupropion intended to provide a steady, sustained weight loss trajectory with a mechanism of action differing from Empatic (formerly Excalia). Contrave™ was rationally designed to block the compensatory effect of beta-endorphin, a key component of the POMC pathway, a central nervous system pathway that stimulates energy expenditure and reduces hunger. Beta-endorphin has been reported to limit POMC and in turn, weight loss. In September, Orexigen reported positive 24-week results for Contrave (www.Orexigen.com/news). The company believes that the new nine month data further validate the scientific hypothesis underlying the development of Contrave.

This information was reported from an Orexigen press release. You can view the entire release at
http://ir.orexigen.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=224841