(PRTA) NEOD001 Demonstrates Encouraging Cardiac Biomarker Responses

• NEOD001 appears generally safe, well-tolerated, has acceptable pharmacokinetic properties and no immunogenicity at studied dose levels
• No dose limiting toxicities have been observed
• Eight of nine evaluable patients with AL amyloidosis with cardiac involvement either achieved responses (N=5) or were considered stable (N=3)
• Additional Phase 1 data updates of NEOD001 expected at medical conferences later this year
• Expect to initiate Phase 2/3 clinical trial of NEOD001 in the fourth quarter of 2014

DUBLIN, Ireland, April 23, 2014  — Prothena Corporation plc (Nasdaq:PRTA), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel antibodies for the potential treatment of diseases that involve protein misfolding or cell adhesion, announced today that an abstract was published by the XIV International Symposium on Amyloidosis (ISA) and described interim data from an ongoing Phase 1 study of NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody in clinical development for the treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction, as of the abstract submission date. Updated data will be presented for the first time at ISA in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“AL amyloidosis is a hematological disorder caused by plasma cells that produce misfolded AL protein. The abnormal AL protein forms deposits, known as amyloid, in the tissues and organs of individuals suffering from this disease,” said Michaela Liedtke, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. “Autologous stem cell therapy and off-label use of chemotherapy is often used in an effort to reduce or eliminate the plasma cells producing the misfolded protein, but even after treatment, residual organ dysfunction remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality for patients suffering from AL. It is exciting to observe that some patients are potentially responding to NEOD001 as we look to confirm these interim results in a larger Phase 2/3, controlled clinical trial. A therapy that works effectively for AL would be welcomed by the amyloidosis community.”

“NEOD001 is the first potential treatment that directly targets the toxic forms of the AL protein and offers hope for this unmet medical need,” said Dale Schenk, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Prothena. “The encouraging signals observed in this ongoing Phase 1 study, both in safety and tolerability and in the cardiac biomarker responses, suggest that a Phase 2/3 study is warranted to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of NEOD001.”

The Phase 1 study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of NEOD001 in patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction. It is also designed to define a maximally tolerated dose and/or recommended dose(s) for a Phase 2/3 study and to evaluate exploratory biomarkers of cardiac, renal and hepatic function.

At the date of the abstract submission, 15 patients, with a median age of 60 years and a median of two organs involved, had been treated with NEOD001, administered intravenously once per month at five dose levels ranging from 0.5 to 8.0 mg/kg for a period of one to nine months. At the time of enrollment into the study, all patients completed one or more prior anti-plasma cell therapies, did not require additional chemotherapy, and had persistent organ dysfunction.

Key data from the published abstract include:

Safety and Tolerability

The interim data demonstrate that NEOD001 was generally safe and well-tolerated at the doses studied. In addition, NEOD001 demonstrated acceptable pharmacokinetic properties and immunogenicity was not observed in any patient. The most frequently reported adverse events were musculoskeletal (N=4), infection (N=4), and fatigue (N=3). All adverse events were mild to moderate and no dose limiting toxicities have been observed. A total of three patients had discontinued the trial at the time of abstract submission: one due to hematological progression, one due to organ progression and one due to withdrawal of consent.

Evidence of Cardiac Biomarker Activity

Of the 15 patients enrolled in the study at the time of abstract submission, 9 patients (56%) had pre-specified baseline levels of the N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) that were greater than or equal to 650 pg/mL (required baseline level for evaluation) and at least one post-baseline NT-proBNP determination. Of those 9 patients, one patient met the progression criteria based on an increase of NT-proBNP, and the remaining 8 patients either met the response criteria based on a decrease in NT-proBNP or were considered stable. Specifically, 5 of 9 (56%) patients had NT-proBNP levels that decreased to a level that met pre-defined response criteria, 3 of 9 (33%) patients had stable NT-proBNP levels, and 1 of 9 (11%) patients showed an increase in NT-proBNP levels in a manner that met pre-defined progression criteria.

Presentation of NEOD001 Poster at ISA

Presentation of the NEOD001 poster at ISA will include updated safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic and NT-proBNP data from the ongoing Phase 1 study as of March 11. The full poster will be made available at www.prothena.com on April 29 at 8:00 a.m. EDT (concurrent with when it will be made available for viewing at ISA).

(Abstract #PB-48) Preliminary cardiac biomarker responses demonstrated in an ongoing phase 1 study of NEOD001 in patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction

• Presenter: Dr. Michaela Liedtke, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California
• Presentation Date and Time: Tuesday, April 29, 4:30-6:00 p.m. EDT

About NEOD001

NEOD001 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the amyloid that accumulates in both AL and AA forms of amyloidosis. NEOD001 was granted orphan drug designation for the treatment of AL and AA amyloidosis by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012 and for the treatment of AL amyloidosis by the European Medicines Agency in 2013. The ongoing multi-center Phase 1 clinical trial is evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of NEOD001 in patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction. The study is designed to define a maximally tolerated dose and/or recommended dose(s) for Phase 2/3. The study is also evaluating exploratory biomarkers for cardiac, renal and hepatic function. For more information, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov and search identifier NCT01707264.

About AL Amyloidosis

Systemic amyloidoses are a complex group of diseases caused by tissue deposition of misfolded proteins that result in progressive organ damage. The most common type, AL amyloidosis or primary amyloidosis, involves a hematological disorder caused by plasma cells that produce misfolded AL protein resulting in deposits of abnormal AL protein (amyloid) in the tissues and organs of individuals with this disease. There are no currently approved treatments for AL amyloidosis that directly target potentially toxic forms of the AL protein. AL amyloidosis is a rare disorder and it is estimated that about 15,000 patients in the U.S. and Europe suffer from AL amyloidosis. 1,200 to 3,200 new cases of AL amyloidosis are reported each year in the United States. Both the causes and origins of AL amyloidosis remain poorly understood.

About Prothena

Prothena Corporation plc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel antibodies for the potential treatment of diseases that involve protein misfolding or cell adhesion. We focus on therapeutic monoclonal antibodies directed specifically to disease-causing proteins. Our antibody-based product candidates target a number of potential indications including AL and AA forms of amyloidosis (NEOD001), Parkinson’s disease and related synucleinopathies (PRX002) and novel cell adhesion targets involved in inflammatory diseases and cancers (PRX003). For more information, please visit the Company’s web site at www.prothena.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements relate to, among other things, the potential safety, efficacy, benefits and acceptance of our product candidates, including NEOD001; the nature and timing of our development programs, including the design of our Phase 1 study of NEOD001 and need for additional studies of NEOD001; evidence of cardiac biomarker activity in NEOD001; and the poster presentation of our abstract at the ISA. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “should,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “target,” “will” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. These statements are based on assumptions that may not prove accurate. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including, but not limited to the risks and uncertainties described in Prothena’s SEC filings, including the “Risk Factors” section of Prothena’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Prothena undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or changes in Prothena’s expectations.

(SWKS) Releases Positive Annual Sustainability Report

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWKS), an innovator of high performance analog semiconductors enabling a broad range of end markets, has released its 2013 Sustainability Report, a voluntary non-financial public document that addresses the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The report highlights annual improvements and provides an overview of the company’s initiatives in multiple areas, from its environmental efforts and labor practices, to its health and safety programs, ethics policies and stewardship activities.

In 2013, Skyworks reduced its year-over-year carbon dioxide emissions rate by 32 percent and improved its water efficiency by 8 percent, recording its lowest water usage rate on record since it began measuring results. Continuing the phase out of materials of concern in finished goods, Skyworks now has a product portfolio which is nearly 100% Green™.

“Central to Skyworks’ efforts in meeting the growing demand for wireless connectivity solutions is our belief in sustainability,” said Bruce J. Freyman, senior vice president of worldwide operations at Skyworks. “In 2013, we continued to make improvements across all key categories and extended our reach into our supply chain by working to implement programs that go beyond mere compliance with industry standards. We are proud that the net result of these sustainability efforts is that our products are manufactured with considerably less impact on the environment.”

Skyworks’ 2013 Sustainability Report can be found at: http://www.skyworksinc.com/downloads/investors/skyworks_sustainability.pdf.

About Skyworks

Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is an innovator of high performance analog semiconductors. Leveraging core technologies, Skyworks supports automotive, broadband, wireless infrastructure, energy management, GPS, industrial, medical, military, wireless networking, smartphone and tablet applications. The Company’s portfolio includes amplifiers, attenuators, battery chargers, circulators, DC/DC converters, demodulators, detectors, diodes, directional couplers, front-end modules, hybrids, infrastructure RF subsystems, isolators, LED drivers, mixers, modulators, optocouplers, optoisolators, phase shifters, PLLs/synthesizers/VCOs, power dividers/combiners, power management devices, receivers, switches, technical ceramics and voltage regulators.

Headquartered in Woburn, Mass., Skyworks is worldwide with engineering, manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout Asia, Europe and North America. For more information, please visit Skyworks’ Web site at: www.skyworksinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include without limitation information relating to future results and expectations of Skyworks (e.g., certain projections and business trends). Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” or “continue,” and similar expressions and variations or negatives of these words. All such statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those projected, and may affect our future operating results, financial position and cash flows.

These risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainty regarding global economic and financial market conditions; the susceptibility of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by our, and our customers’, products to economic downturns; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders and our ability, as well as the ability of our customers, to manage inventory; losses or curtailments of purchases or payments from key customers, or the timing of customer inventory adjustments; the availability and pricing of third-party semiconductor foundry, assembly and test capacity, raw materials and supplier components; changes in laws, regulations and/or policies that could adversely affect either (i) the economy and our customers’ demand for our products or (ii) the financial markets and our ability to raise capital; our ability to develop, manufacture and market innovative products in a highly price competitive and rapidly changing technological environment; economic, social, military and geo-political conditions in the countries in which we, our customers or our suppliers operate, including security and health risks, possible disruptions in transportation networks and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; fluctuations in our manufacturing yields due to our complex and specialized manufacturing processes; delays or disruptions in production due to equipment maintenance, repairs and/or upgrades; our reliance on several key customers for a large percentage of our sales; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third-party semiconductor foundries and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; our ability to timely and accurately predict market requirements and evolving industry standards, and to identify opportunities in new markets; uncertainties of litigation, including potential disputes over intellectual property infringement and rights, as well as payments related to the licensing and/or sale of such rights; our ability to rapidly develop new products and avoid product obsolescence; our ability to retain, recruit and hire key executives, technical personnel and other employees in the positions and numbers, with the experience and capabilities, and at the compensation levels needed to implement our business and product plans; lengthy product development cycles that impact the timing of new product introductions; unfavorable changes in product mix; the quality of our products and any remediation costs; shorter-than-expected product life cycles; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies and in achieving higher levels of design integration; and our ability to continue to grow and maintain an intellectual property portfolio and obtain needed licenses from third parties, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Note to Editors: Skyworks and Skyworks Solutions are trademarks or registered trademarks of Skyworks Solutions, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All other brands and names listed are trademarks of their respective companies.

(VSTA) Receives Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Expanding Stem Cell Technology

(CBIN) To Acquire First Financial Service Corporation of Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Community Bank Shares of Indiana, Inc. (NASDAQ GM: CBIN), the holding company for Your Community Bank and The Scott County State Bank, and First Financial Service Corporation (NASDAQ GM: FFKY), the holding company for First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown, jointly announced today they have entered into an agreement and plan of share exchange (the “Agreement”). Under the terms of the Agreement, Community Bank Shares of Indiana, Inc. will exchange all of the issued and outstanding common shares of First Financial Service Corporation for 0.153 shares of CBIN’s common stock, subject to potential adjustments at closing. Based on CBIN’s 20 trading day average common stock price of $22.33 per share, as of April 17, 2014, assuming no exchange ratio adjustments, the transaction is valued at approximately $17.9 million. As part of the transaction, FFKY’s outstanding preferred stock, all of which was issued in the Troubled Assets Relief Program, will be redeemed at or promptly following closing of the acquisition for approximately $12.3 million, plus accrued but unpaid interest. In addition, CBIN has entered into subscription agreements with investors to purchase approximately $25.0 million of CBIN common stock immediately prior to the consummation of the share exchange transaction at a price of $22.33 per share. The transaction is subject to receipt of FFKY shareholder approval, CBIN shareholder approval and customary regulatory approvals. We expect the transaction to close in the late third or fourth quarter of 2014.

Upon the consummation of the transaction, First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown will be merged with and into Your Community Bank. At that time, First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown offices will become branches of Your Community Bank. CBIN estimates it will have approximately $1.6 billion in assets and 41 branch offices throughout southeastern Indiana and Kentucky after the transaction closes. CBIN expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings per share in the first full year of operations, excluding any one-time restructuring charges, and that all subsidiary banks will exceed “well-capitalized” thresholds under all regulatory definitions.

James D. Rickard, President and CEO of Community Bank Shares of Indiana, stated, “We are excited to add to our presence in the Louisville and Bardstown markets, while expanding into Elizabethtown and neighboring communities. We believe this transaction creates a dynamic community banking franchise across the entire Louisville MSA. Community Bank Shares enjoys strong market share in the northern counties of Louisville and the addition of FFKY adds a strong presence in Louisville’s southern counties. The acquisition of FFKY is the second transaction we have undertaken in the last twelve months. These activities are part of an integrated strategy to drive shareholder returns through both organic and acquisition related growth.”

Gregory Schreacke, First Financial Service Corporation’s President, commented, “We are excited to partner with a strong and reputable firm, such as Community Bank Shares. Our shared values and synergies will create a tremendous new opportunity for our associates, shareholders, customers and community. Our combined financial institution will offer a wider array of products and services while continuing our long-standing personal commitment to our customers and community. ”

ABOUT COMMUNITY BANK SHARES OF INDIANA, INC.

Community Bank Shares of Indiana, Inc. is a bank holding company with $846 million in total assets as of March 31, 2014 and includes two wholly owned, state-chartered subsidiary banks include Your Community Bank and The Scott County State Bank. The Company’s stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CBIN”. The Company may be contacted at (812) 944-2224 or 101 West Spring Street, New Albany, Indiana 47150. To learn more about the Company, please visit www.yourcommunitybank.com and www.scottcountystatebank.com.

ABOUT FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORPORATION

Established in 1923, FFKY, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Federal Savings Bank of Elizabethtown (“First Federal Savings Bank”), operates 17 offices in Kentucky including seven offices in the Louisville metro area, seven offices in the Elizabethtown metro area, and two offices in Bardstown. At December 31, 2013, FFKY had approximately $859 million in total assets, $467 million in loans and $783 million in deposits.

Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. is serving as financial advisor to CBIN on the transaction and as placement agent on the offering. Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC is serving as legal counsel to CBIN on the transaction and the offering. FFKY is represented by the investment banking firms of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and Professional Bank Services, Inc. and the law firm of Frost Brown Todd LLC.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy shares of the Company’s common stock. Any offer will be made only by means of a private offering presentation solely to accredited investors or qualified institutional buyers. This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase, or the solicitation of an offer to tender, any shares of the Company’s common stock.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not historical facts, but rather statements based on the Company’s current expectations regarding our business strategies and their intended results and future performance. Forward-looking statements are preceded by terms such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends” and similar expressions, as well as any statements related to future expectations of performance.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Numerous risks and uncertainties could cause or contribute to the Company’s actual results, performance, and achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause or contribute to these differences include, without limitation, the Company’s failure to integrate acquired institutions in accordance with expectations; deviations from performance expectations related to acquired institutions; general economic conditions, including changes in market interest rates and changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; legislative and regulatory changes; competitive conditions in the banking markets served by the Company’s subsidiaries; the adequacy of the allowance for losses on loans and the level of future provisions for losses on loans; and other factors disclosed periodically in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Because of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them, whether included in this report or made elsewhere from time to time by the Company or on the Company’s behalf. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Other Information

This release may be deemed to be offering materials of Community Bank Shares of Indiana, Inc. in connection with CBIN’s proposed acquisition of First Financial Service Corporation, on the terms and subject to the conditions in the Agreement and Plan of Share Exchange. This release may also be deemed to be proxy solicitation materials of First Financial Service Corporation in connection with a special meeting of the FFKY shareholders, currently anticipated to be held in the third quarter of 2014, to vote on a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Share Exchange.

Shareholders of CBIN and FFKY and other investors are urged to carefully read the joint proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the registration statement on Form S-4, which CBIN will file with the SEC in connection with the proposed share exchange, because it will contain important information about CBIN, FFKY, the share exchange, the persons soliciting proxies with respect to the proposed share exchange and their interests in the proposed share exchange and related matters.

The respective directors and executive officers of Community Bank Shares of Indiana, Inc. and First Financial Service Corporation and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from FFKY shareholders with respect to the proposed share exchange. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of CBIN is available in its proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 4, 2014. Information regarding directors and executive officers of FFKY is available in its proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 21, 2014. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Community Bank Shares of Indiana, Inc. and First Financial Service Corporation through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by CBIN will be available free of charge on CBIN’s website at http://www.yourcommunitybank.com, or by contacting Paul Chrisco by telephone at (812) 981-7375. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by FFKY will be available free of charge on FFKY’s website at http://www.ffsbky.com, or by contacting Frank Perez, Chief Financial Officer, by telephone at (270) 765-2131.

(EPZM) Achieves Lead Candidate Milestone for 3rd Target in GSK Collaboration, $4M Received

– Potential Therapeutic Candidates Now Identified for All Three GSK Collaboration Targets –

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 22, 2014 — Epizyme, Inc. (NASDAQ: EPZM), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company creating innovative personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers, today announced the achievement of the lead candidate milestone for the third of the three histone methyltransferase (HMT) targets in the company’s collaboration with GSK and is receiving $4 million in milestone and license payments.

Previously, Epizyme announced the achievement of a $4 million development candidate milestone for the first GSK collaboration target in January 2014 and a $2 million lead candidate selection milestone for the second GSK collaboration target in February 2014.

“Epizyme’s proprietary product platform is an ongoing source of potential novel therapeutic candidates for the treatment of genetically defined cancers as we translate the science of epigenetics into innovative personalized therapeutics for cancer patients,” said Robert Copeland, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Epizyme. “Since we began our collaboration with GSK in 2011, we have identified novel small molecule inhibitors for all three collaboration HMT targets, a significant accomplishment in a short period of time in a new therapeutic class.”

About Epizyme, Inc.
Epizyme, Inc. is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company creating personalized therapeutics for patients with genetically defined cancers. Epizyme has built a proprietary product platform that the company uses to create small molecule inhibitors of a 96-member class of enzymes known as histone methyltransferases, or HMTs. HMTs are part of the system of gene regulation, referred to as epigenetics, that controls gene expression. Genetic alterations can result in changes to the activity of HMTs, making them oncogenic (cancer-causing). By focusing on the genetic drivers of cancers, Epizyme’s targeted science seeks to match the right medicines with the right patients for a personalized approach to cancer treatment.

For more information, visit www.epizyme.com and connect with us on Twitter at @EpizymeRx.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including statements about the Company’s strategy, future operations, development of the Company’s therapeutic candidates, and future expectations and plans and prospects for the Company and other statements containing the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, expectations of expanding ongoing clinical trials, availability and timing of data from ongoing clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals, development progress of the Company’s companion diagnostics, availability of funding sufficient for the Company’s foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements, the success of the Company’s collaborations, other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of the Company’s therapeutic candidates or companion diagnostics and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2014. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date hereof. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

(RCII) Supports Michigan Vets

The Michigan Veterans Foundation today received $5,000 worth of Walmart gift cards from Rent-A-Center. The gift cards are tied to a philanthropic initiative dubbed “Random Acts of Caring.” Launched in 2008, the Rent-A-Center initiative provides unexpected donations of merchandise, funding or gift cards to deserving nonprofits across the country.

Dedicated to helping homeless veterans regain their stability and return to self-sufficiency, the Michigan Veterans Foundation fills gaps that exist in services provided to veterans.

“We certainly appreciate the gift cards,” said Michigan Veterans Foundation Executive Director Tyrone Chatman. “They will help us stay true to our motto: Never leave our wounded behind.”

“We selected the Michigan Veterans Foundation in recognition of the organization’s efforts in meeting the needs and improving the lives of area veterans,” said Xavier Dominicis, Rent-A-Center’s vice president of public affairs. “Today marks the 96th Random Act of Caring undertaken since Rent-A-Center launched this initiative to support the communities it serves.”

The gift cards will be used to meet the ongoing needs of the Michigan Veterans Foundation’s Detroit Veterans Center, a transitional housing facility and resource center.

About Rent-A-Center

Rent-A-Center (NASDAQ:RCII), headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates more than 3,000 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. The Company employs over 20,000 coworkers. Learn more at www.rentacenter.com.

(XNPT) Files Definitive Proxy Materials and Mails Letter to Stockholders

XenoPort, Inc. (Nasdaq: XNPT) today announced that it has filed definitive proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Company’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund L.P. and its affiliates (“Clinton”), which reportedly hold approximately 1.8% of the Company’s common stock, have provided notice of their intent to nominate three candidates to stand for election to XenoPort’s Board of Directors and to submit other proposals for consideration at the Annual Meeting.

In conjunction with the definitive proxy filing, the Company is mailing a letter to stockholders urging them to vote “FOR ALL” of XenoPort’s nominees to the Board of Directors. Highlights of the letter include:

• XenoPort’s Board of Directors is committed to realizing the full potential of XenoPort’s assets and to enhancing stockholder value;
• XenoPort is committed to optimizing the value of XP23829 for all XenoPort stockholders;
• XenoPort is making progress commercializing HORIZANT^® (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets;
• XenoPort has the right Board and team in place to execute its strategy and deliver long-term value for all XenoPort stockholders;
• The XenoPort Board of Directors is committed to doing what is in the best interest of all XenoPort stockholders;
• Clinton’s nominees add no relevant skills or experience that is not already represented on the XenoPort Board; and
• Furthermore, if elected, the Clinton nominees may pursue plans that could undermine the Board’s goal of enhancing value for all XenoPort stockholders.

The full text of the letter follows:

VOTE “FOR ALL” OF THE XENOPORT NOMINEES TO THE BOARD

ON THE WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY.

April 22, 2014

Dear Fellow XenoPort Stockholder:

We are writing to you today regarding XenoPort’s upcoming 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be held on June 11, 2014. At this meeting, you will be asked to make important decisions regarding the composition of the Board of Directors and the future of your investment in XenoPort.

As you may be aware, Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund, L.P. and its affiliates (“Clinton”) reportedly hold approximately 1.8% of XenoPort’s common stock and began buying and selling XenoPort shares in June 2013. Clinton is now seeking to replace three members of your Board of Directors with three of its own hand-picked nominees. It is also proposing to present ten additional stockholder proposals at the meeting.

Your XenoPort Board of Directors carefully considered the director nominees put forth by Clinton. The composition of your Board of Directors is something XenoPort takes very seriously, as the experience and expertise of its directors have been, and will continue to be, an important part of XenoPort’s ability to achieve its strategic objectives. Indeed, under the leadership and guidance of your Board of Directors and management team, XenoPort is executing a strategy that we believe will enable us to enhance stockholder value and realize the full potential of XenoPort’s assets.

LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

The XenoPort Board of Directors is comprised of nine highly-qualified and proven leaders, including eight independent directors. Your Board of Directors is active, engaged and focused on stockholder value. We believe your Board of Directors has the skills and expertise necessary to oversee the execution of XenoPort’s strategic plans. In contrast, we believe Clinton’s nominees add no experience or expertise that is not already represented on your Board of Directors or that is specifically relevant to XenoPort.

Accordingly, your Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote the enclosed WHITE proxy card today “FOR ALL” of XenoPort’s nominees: Ronald W. Barrett, Ph.D., Jeryl L. Hilleman and Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., “FOR” Proposals 2 through 4 and 9 through 14 and “AGAINST” Clinton Proposals 5 through 8.

Your vote is very important. We encourage you to make your voice heard by voting online, by telephone or by signing and dating the enclosed WHITE proxy card and returning it in the postage-paid envelope provided.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMMITTED TO REALIZING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF XENOPORT’S ASSETS AND TO ENHANCING STOCKHOLDER VALUE.

The XenoPort Board of Directors and management team are committed to enhancing stockholder value. We believe that we are executing a plan that will enable us to achieve this goal. This two-pronged plan includes:

• Advancing the development of XP23829, a potential treatment for psoriasis and/or relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS); and
• Building value in and commercializing HORIZANT^® (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets.

We are making meaningful progress on these initiatives, as discussed below.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO OPTIMIZING THE VALUE OF XP23829

FOR ALL XENOPORT STOCKHOLDERS.

We have completed a number of preclinical studies with our XP23829 product candidate, including three 13-week toxicology studies in animals and three Phase 1 human clinical trials. The Phase 1 data has demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects and reinforces our strong belief in the potential of this product candidate.

We are preparing to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis by mid-2014. We hope to establish optimal dosing of XP23829 in the planned Phase 2 psoriasis trial and use this information for dose selection for potential Phase 3 clinical trials in psoriasis and/or relapsing forms of MS.

Earlier this year, we successfully conducted a public offering of XenoPort common stock. This offering netted proceeds to XenoPort of approximately $77.4 million. While these funds will help support our XP23829 development efforts, it would be wrong to imply that a simple increase in funding will accelerate development, which is a step-wise and regulated process.

Moving successfully through the drug development and regulatory review process also requires experience and technical expertise. To further bolster XenoPort’s strong management team, we welcomed Richard Kim, M.D., last July as Vice President of Medical Affairs. In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Kim was appointed Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer earlier this year. Dr. Kim brings to XenoPort more than a decade of experience in both clinical development and medical affairs, including serving as vice president of clinical development and head of the MS therapeutic area at Elan Pharmaceuticals, plc.

In addition to initiating the planned psoriasis Phase 2 trial, we continue to engage in discussions with potential partners regarding the development and commercialization of XP23829.

WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS COMMERCIALIZING HORIZANT.

We are encouraged by the progress made in our commercialization efforts for HORIZANT, an FDA-approved treatment for moderate-to-severe primary restless legs syndrome (RLS) in adults and for the management of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in adults.

We began our promotional efforts for HORIZANT in June 2013 after re-acquiring the rights in May because we did not believe that our prior partner was realizing HORIZANT’s market potential. The results of our promotional efforts in the first two full quarters since we re-acquired HORIZANT’s rights demonstrate that our confidence in HORIZANT’s potential is justified, and that the prior commercial performance of HORIZANT is not representative of its full market potential. For example:

• Despite a product stock-out immediately prior to XenoPort’s re-acquisition that resulted in a one-month delay of our commercial launch of HORIZANT and a decrease in prescriptions filled to near zero, both the total number and the trajectory of growth of prescribed tablets have achieved all-time highs. We accomplished these results within six months and by applying substantially fewer resources than the prior partner. In particular, we have achieved all-time high sales of HORIZANT through an active promotional program and a targeted sales team of 40 representatives as contrasted with minimal promotion and almost 300 sales representatives that were used by the prior partner.
• Under XenoPort’s commercialization efforts, the nationwide HORIZANT prescribed pill counts for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013, increased by 27% over the third quarter ended September 30, 2013.
• In looking at just the targeted territories where XenoPort is actively promoting HORIZANT, total prescribed pills for the fourth quarter of 2013 increased by 39% compared to the third quarter of 2013. This compares to no growth in non-promoted territories.
• In the fourth quarter of 2013, HORIZANT’s net sales were $2.7 million, a 34% increase compared to the third quarter of 2013, which was the first full quarter of XenoPort’s commercialization of HORIZANT.

Given these results and the positive feedback we continue to receive from physicians who prescribe HORIZANT, we believe our targeted educational efforts have already increased the value of this asset to XenoPort stockholders.

At the same time, your Board of Directors and management team are closely monitoring the progress of our HORIZANT commercialization strategy. We continue to engage in discussions with new potential partners, and we will adjust our plans as appropriate to ensure that we meet our goal of maximizing HORIZANT’s value and its contribution to increasing stockholder value.

XENOPORT HAS THE RIGHT BOARD AND TEAM IN PLACE TO EXECUTE ITS STRATEGY AND DELIVER LONG-TERM VALUE FOR ALL XENOPORT STOCKHOLDERS.

The XenoPort Board of Directors is comprised of nine highly-qualified and proven leaders, including eight independent directors and XenoPort’s Chief Executive Officer, Ronald W. Barrett, Ph.D.

Your Board of Directors is active and engaged. In 2013, your Board of Directors held 22 Board meetings in its efforts to oversee the Company’s strategy, drive results and enhance stockholder value.

Your Board has the expertise needed to ensure XenoPort continues executing on its goals. This includes experience in:

• Leading other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies with three independent members of your Board serving as Chief Executive Officer of other successful biopharmaceutical companies;
• Biopharmaceutical operations, strategic planning and oversight, research and product development, manufacturing, regulatory, compliance, sales and marketing, risk oversight, and quality;
• Investing in, partnering and growing healthcare companies;
• Finance, auditing, accounting and investment banking in the life science and healthcare industries; and
• Developing fund raising and capital allocation strategies, and in evaluating and setting compensation and corporate governance policies and practices.

This broad-based and relevant expertise is reflected in the Company’s nominees for election:

• Dr. Barrett has more than 20 years of executive management experience in the pharmaceutical industry. As a founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Dr. Barrett’s leadership and strategic direction have led to XenoPort’s discovery and development of numerous novel product candidates and have enabled XenoPort to evolve from a pure research-based company to an integrated pharmaceutical company with full development and commercialization capabilities. For example, Dr. Barrett was an instrumental contributor to the FDA approval of HORIZANT and directed the recent re-acquisition and commercial re-launch of this product. In addition, he oversaw the efforts that led to the discovery of XP23829 and continues to play a key role in devising and executing the clinical development strategy for this compound.
• Ms. Hilleman, Chair of XenoPort’s Audit Committee, has over 30 years of finance, marketing and investment expertise and an impressive history of executive leadership with over 20 years of service as Chief Financial Officer of both private and public companies, including taking four companies public. Ms. Hilleman’s considerable expertise in strategic corporate finance and accounting allows her to provide significant guidance and direction to XenoPort in relation to its finance, compliance and auditing needs. For example, Ms. Hilleman’s experience was invaluable in working with our independent accounting firm and the SEC to successfully navigate through the complex accounting rules associated with the re-acquisition of HORIZANT. As a result of this work, as well as her support on XenoPort’s ongoing accounting and financial compliance needs, Ms. Hilleman possesses important knowledge of XenoPort’s financials that no replacement as Audit Chair could provide.
• Dr. Wierenga brings a vast wealth of experience with over 40 years of successful leadership of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, including executive leadership of pharmaceutical research, clinical development and regulatory functions for a number of national and multi-national corporations, as well as past and current service on the Boards of Directors for several successful publicly-traded biopharmaceutical companies, including Santarus, Inc., which was recently acquired by Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for $2.6 billion, and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired last year by Amgen Inc. for over $10 billion. In his career, Dr. Wierenga has participated in the submission of over 70 Investigational New Drug applications and the filing of 16 New Drug Applications/Biologics License Applications, which have led to the launch of 16 FDA-approved drug products including LIPITOR, NEURONTIN and most recently UCERIS. As a valued member of XenoPort’s Board of Directors for 13 years, he has substantial experience with the development of the Company’s long-term strategies that have led to our XP23829 development program as well as to the commercialization of HORIZANT.

We are confident that XenoPort’s Board of Directors and leadership team, led by Dr. Barrett, have the depth and diversity of skills and expertise needed to continue executing the Company’s strategy and to further enhance stockholder value.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL XENOPORT STOCKHOLDERS.

The XenoPort Board of Directors and management team appreciate and welcome stockholder input regarding the Company. We take the views of our stockholders seriously and have discussions with them on a regular basis.

We have also had numerous conversations with Clinton over the past months. Despite our efforts to work constructively with Clinton to avoid a costly and disruptive proxy contest, no resolution was reached. We are prepared to continue to engage with Clinton as a stockholder, as we do with all of our stockholders. We are disappointed, however, that Clinton has chosen this path and question whether Clinton is truly interested in serving the interests of ALL XenoPort stockholders.

CLINTON’S NOMINEES ADD NO RELEVANT SKILLS OR EXPERIENCE THAT IS NOT ALREADY REPRESENTED ON THE XENOPORT BOARD.

FURTHERMORE, IF ELECTED, THE CLINTON NOMINEES MAY PURSUE PLANS THAT COULD UNDERMINE YOUR BOARD’S GOAL OF ENHANCING VALUE FOR ALL XENOPORT STOCKHOLDERS.

Your Board of Directors regularly reviews the composition of XenoPort’s Board and leadership team to ensure that it maintains the right mix of skills and experience to achieve XenoPort’s goals. To that end, in addition to Dr. Kim as discussed above, three new, highly-qualified directors have joined XenoPort’s Board over the past five years. We do not believe any change to the composition of XenoPort’s Board or leadership, as suggested by Clinton, is necessary to achieve our goals at this time.

Your Board of Directors already has deep biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical and commercialization expertise, as well as experience in finance and accounting and corporate governance matters. We believe that replacing your directors with Clinton’s nominees would remove expertise and experience that is critical to the continued execution of the Company’s strategic plans.

Based on Clinton’s public statements, we are also concerned that if Clinton’s nominees are elected, they may pursue plans, including immediately discontinuing the commercialization of HORIZANT, which would be contrary to the interests of all XenoPort stockholders and may short circuit XenoPort’s ability to maximize the overall potential of this asset.

PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT – VOTE THE WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY.

Your Board of Directors is committed to driving stockholder value and believes that it has the right team in place to realize the full potential of XenoPort’s assets.

We urge you to protect your investment by voting the enclosed WHITE proxy card today “FOR ALL” of XenoPort’s nominees: Ronald W. Barrett, Ph.D., Jeryl L. Hilleman and Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., “FOR” Proposals 2 through 4 and 9 through 14 and “AGAINST” Clinton Proposals 5 through 8.

On behalf of your Board of Directors and management team, we thank you for your continued support.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking” statements, including, without limitation, all statements related to the potential value of XenoPort’s assets and XenoPort’s ability to achieve its goal of enhancing stockholder value through the execution of its strategic plan, including all statements related to the commercial and value opportunity for HORIZANT and the suitability of XP23829 as a potential treatment for psoriasis or relapsing forms of MS; XenoPort’s ability to build value in HORIZANT through, and the potential of, its targeted educational efforts; XenoPort’s current strategy for advancing the XP23829 clinical development program, including the initiation or conduct of planned or potential future clinical trials and the timing thereof, including XenoPort’s expectations with respect to a potential Phase 3 development program for XP23829; potential partnering efforts for XP23829 and/or HORIZANT; and other statements that are not historical facts. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as “believe,” “could,” “hope,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon XenoPort’s current expectations. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. XenoPort’s actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: risks related to XenoPort’s lack of commercialization experience and its ability to successfully market and sell HORIZANT, including XenoPort’s ability to maintain sales, marketing, distribution, supply chain and other sufficient capabilities to sell HORIZANT; XenoPort’s dependence on the success of its strategies for HORIZANT commercialization, promotion and distribution, as well as its ability to successfully execute on these activities and to comply with applicable laws, regulations and regulatory requirements; the competitive environment for and the degree of market acceptance of HORIZANT; obtaining appropriate pricing and reimbursement for HORIZANT in an increasingly challenging environment; the difficulty and uncertainty of pharmaceutical product development and the uncertain results and timing of clinical trials and other studies, including the risk that success in preclinical testing and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful; XenoPort’s ability to successfully advance XP23829 development and to conduct or initiate clinical trials in the anticipated timeframes, or at all; the uncertainty of the FDA’s review process and other regulatory requirements, including the risk that FDA action, including with respect to the investigational new drug application for XP23829, would delay or prevent the initiation of future clinical trials of XP23829; XenoPort’s need for and the availability of resources to develop XP23829 and to support XenoPort’s operations; XenoPort’s dependence on future collaborative partners; the uncertain therapeutic and commercial value of HORIZANT and XP23829; as well as risks related to future opportunities and plans, including the uncertainty of future operating results. These and other risk factors are discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in XenoPort’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2014. XenoPort expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

If you have any questions, require assistance with voting your WHITE proxy card

or need additional copies of the proxy materials, please contact:

MACKENZIE PARTNERS, INC.

105 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10016

proxy@mackenziepartners.com

(212) 929-5500 (Call Collect)

Or

TOLL-FREE (800) 322-2885

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

XenoPort, Inc., its directors and certain of its executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with XenoPort’s 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. XenoPort has filed with the SEC and provided to its stockholders a definitive proxy statement and a WHITE proxy card in connection with such solicitation. XENOPORT STOCKHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS) AND THE ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

Information regarding the names of XenoPort’s directors and executive officers and their respective interests in XenoPort by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in XenoPort’s definitive proxy statement for the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 22, 2014, including Appendix B thereto.

The definitive proxy statement (and amendments or supplements thereto) and the accompanying WHITE proxy card, and any other relevant documents and other material filed by XenoPort with the SEC, are or will be available for no charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at XenoPort’s investor relations website at http://investor.xenoport.com/index.cfm. Copies may also be obtained free of charge by contacting XenoPort Investor Relations by mail at 3410 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, California 95051 or by telephone at (408) 616-7200.

About XenoPort

XenoPort, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a portfolio of internally discovered product candidates for the potential treatment of neurological disorders. XenoPort is currently commercializing HORIZANT in the United States and developing its novel fumaric acid ester product candidate, XP23829, as a potential treatment for psoriasis and relapsing forms of MS. REGNITE® (gabapentin enacarbil) Extended-Release Tablets is being marketed in Japan by Astellas Pharma Inc. XenoPort’s pipeline of product candidates also includes potential treatments for patients with spasticity related to spinal cord injury and Parkinson’s disease. To learn more about XenoPort, please visit the Web site at www.XenoPort.com.

HORIZANT, REGNITE and XENOPORT are registered trademarks of XenoPort, Inc.

(EVOK) Initiates Phase 3 Clinical Trial of EVK-001 for Treatment of Gastroparesis

First Patient Enrolled in Study of Novel Intranasal Formulation and Delivery of Metoclopramide

SOLANA BEACH, Calif., April 22, 2014  — Evoke Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:EVOK), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, today announced the initiation of its Phase 3 clinical trial investigating the use of EVK-001, a novel metoclopramide nasal spray for the relief of symptoms associated with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis in women.

“We are very pleased to have our Phase 3 clinical trial for EVK-001 underway with the enrollment of our first patient into the study,” said David Gonyer, R.Ph., President and Chief Executive Officer of Evoke Pharma. “Our goal is to address an important unmet need in treating gastroparesis: a therapy that can improve the GI symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, that are characteristic of this disorder. Building on our successful Phase 2 placebo-controlled study, this Phase 3 study is designed to confirm the results that showed EVK-001 is an effective and well-tolerated drug candidate for women with diabetic gastroparesis.”

“Gastroparesis in patients with diabetes can be very difficult to treat. There are limited FDA-approved options and the absorption of oral medications can be unpredictable,” said lead investigator Dr. Henry P. Parkman, Director of the GI Motility Laboratory at the Temple University School of Medicine. “EVK-001 has shown promising safety and efficacy results in previous diabetic gastroparesis studies and may provide a valuable treatment alternative for this patient population. Unlike oral medications, intranasal delivery bypasses the GI tract and directly enters the bloodstream, allowing predictable absorption regardless of the gastric emptying delays and symptom flares associated with the disease.”

Gastroparesis is a disorder in which the stomach is delayed in emptying its contents to the small intestine (in the absence of an obstruction). Characteristic symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, early satiety and bloating. Gastroparesis interferes with absorption of food and medications in the GI tract due to unpredictable gastric emptying and vomiting. Symptom flares vary in severity and diminish quality of life, negatively impact blood glucose control, and may lead to complications requiring hospitalization. The potential gastroparesis patient pool in the United States is approximately 12 to 16 million adults, with women making up over 80% of the affected population.

The Phase 3 clinical trial is a four-week, multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study evaluating the efficacy, safety and population pharmacokinetics of EVK-001 in adult female subjects with diabetic gastroparesis and is expected to enroll 200 patients at sites across the United States. The trial is expected to be completed in 2015.

About Evoke Pharma, Inc.

Evoke is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development of drugs to treat GI disorders and diseases. The Company is developing EVK-001, a metoclopramide nasal spray for the relief of symptoms associated with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis in women with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic gastroparesis is a GI disorder afflicting millions of sufferers worldwide, in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents resulting in serious digestive system symptoms. Metoclopramide is the only product currently approved in the United States to treat gastroparesis, and is currently available only in oral and intravenous forms. EVK-001 is a novel formulation of this drug, designed to provide systemic delivery of metoclopramide through intranasal administration.

Safe Harbor Statement

Evoke cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements are based on the company’s current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the ability of EVK-001 to address an important, unmet medical need; the enrollment and completion of the Phase 3 clinical trial; and the market opportunity for EVK-001. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Evoke that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release or the presentation due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in Evoke’s business, including, without limitation: the inherent risks of clinical development of EVK-001, including potential delays in enrollment and completion of clinical trials, including the Phase 3 trial; Evoke will require substantial additional funding, including potentially to complete the Phase 3 clinical trial of EVK-001 as well as finance additional development requirements, and may be unable to raise capital when needed; the results observed in female patients with symptoms associated with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis in Evoke’s Phase 2b clinical trial of EVK-001 may not be predictive of the safety and efficacy results in the Phase 3 clinical trial or any other future trial; the potential for adverse safety findings relating to EVK-001 to delay or prevent regulatory approval or commercialization; Evoke’s reliance on outsourcing arrangements for many of its activities, including clinical development and supply of EVK-001; the ability of Evoke to obtain, maintain and successfully enforce adequate patent and other intellectual property protection of its product candidate and the ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and other risks detailed in Evoke’s prior press releases and in the periodic reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Evoke undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

CONTACT: Investor Contact:
         The Ruth Group
         David Burke
         Tel: 646-536-7009
         dburke@theruthgroup.com

         Media Contact:
         The Ruth Group
         Aaron Estrada
         Tel: 646-536-7028
         aaestrada@theruthgroup.com

(GEVO) Lufthansa to Evaluate Gevo’s Renewable Jet Fuel

Lufthansa’s Testing Supported by the European Commission

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., April 22, 2014  — Gevo, Inc. (Nasdaq:GEVO), the world’s only commercial producer of renewable isobutanol, announced today that it has come to an agreement with Lufthansa to evaluate Gevo’s renewable jet fuel with the goal of approving Gevo’s alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) for commercial aviation use. Lufthansa’s testing is being supported through work with the European Commission.

“ATJ, like the Fischer-Tropsch pathway, has the potential to use lignocellulosic waste as feedstock, but promises to do so at less cost than Fischer-Tropsch,” said Alexander Zschocke, Lufthansa Group Senior Manager Aviation Biofuels.  Lufthansa is a leader in the marketplace for alternative fuels.

“By using isobutanol as a renewable raw material for producing jet fuel, the resulting jet fuel has the mixtures of molecules typical of petro-based jet fuel making it directly compatible with engines and infrastructure.  Renewable jet embodies the potential of cleaner, greener, and as we scale up, cost competitive drop-in fuels,” said Patrick Gruber, Gevo’s chief executive officer. “We greatly appreciate Lufthansa’s and the European Commission’s support of this effort. Through initiatives like this, the commercial airlines are seeking to prove out ATJ and move it towards commercialization. ATJ from Gevo’s isobutanol is a clean burning, homegrown, drop-in jet fuel, and we have a potential route to deliver aviation biofuels at scale and at competitive cost.”

Gevo’s patented ATJ fuel is truly a drop-in fuel, designed to be fully compliant with aviation fuel specifications and provide equal performance, including fit-for-purpose properties.

About Gevo

Gevo is a leading renewable chemicals and next-generation biofuels company. Gevo’s patent-protected, capital-light business model converts existing ethanol plants into bio-refineries to make isobutanol. This versatile chemical can be directly integrated into existing chemical and fuel products to deliver environmental and economic benefits. Gevo has executed initial commercial-scale production runs at its isobutanol facility in Luverne, Minn., constructed in conjunction with ICM, a leading provider of proprietary ethanol process technology, and has a marquee list of partners including The Coca-Cola Company, Sasol Chemical Industries, and LANXESS, Inc., an affiliate of LANXESS Corporation, among others. Gevo is committed to a sustainable bio-based economy that meets society’s needs for plentiful food and clean air and water. For more information, visit www.gevo.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements that are not purely statements of historical fact, and can sometimes be identified by our use of terms such as “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “estimate,” “future,” “strive” and similar words. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Gevo and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Gevo in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Gevo for the year ended December 31, 2012, as amended, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Gevo.

CONTACT: Media Contact:
         Robin Peak
         Gevo, Inc.
         T: (720) 267-8632
         rpeak@gevo.com

         Investor Contact:
         Mike Willis
         Gevo, Inc.
         T: (720) 267-8636
         mwillis@gevo.com

(VIMC) Agreement on SVAC-Compliant Chips with the 1st Research Institute of Ministry of Public Security

BEIJING, April 21, 2014  — Vimicro International Corporation (NASDAQ: VIMC) (“Vimicro” or the “Company”), a leading video processing IC and surveillance solution provider, today announced that the Company signed an agreement regarding SVAC-compliant chips with the First Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security. The signing ceremony was held on April 18 in Beijing and was attended by: Party Secretary Mr. Wang Gang, Director Mr. Qiu Baoli, Deputy Director Ms. Chen Zhaowu, etc. of the First Research Institute of Ministry of Public Security; Vimicro’s CEO, Dr. Zhonghan (John) Deng, and the President Mr. Zhaowei (Kevin) Jin.

The SVAC (Surveillance Video and Audio Coding) surveillance standard represents one of the most important achievements in the field of security and surveillance monitoring and it is the only codec specifically designed for security surveillance needs. SVAC was promulgated in 2011 as a national standard, and it was initiated and co-developed by the First Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security and Vimicro, under the leadership of the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with the goal of ensuring national safety and security. To-date, SVAC has been implemented in Shanxi and Hebei provinces and in other regions to provide public security, urban management, and in other large-scale industrial applications. Recently, the Ministry of Public Security selected Guangdong Province as the first province for a national SVAC standard demonstration running through October 2014, along with video collection points funded by Guangdong provincial government, which together will comprise a uniform implementation of the SVAC national standard.

With SVAC’s mature technology and increasing recognition, the total surveillance market is at approximately 300 billion Yuan (approximately USD $50 million) in 2012 and is estimated to be growing at an annual growth rate of approximately 20%. The close cooperation between Vimicro and First Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security will continue to develop future SVAC national standards with the respect to core chips, safety programs, promotions, and other system features, which will benefit from both parties’ common resources, common strengths, and the promotion of development of future SVAC-compliant products, as well as system applications and industrial processes using video surveillance. Moreover, SVAC sets an example for the cooperation between government and industry on the development of national standards, the promotion of domestic high-tech industries, and the achievement of major successes.

About Vimicro International Corporation

Vimicro International Corporation is a leading video processing IC and surveillance solution provider that designs, develops, and markets mixed-signal semiconductor products and system-level solutions that enable multimedia capabilities in a variety of products for PC/notebook, consumer electronics, and surveillance applications. Vimicro has aggressively entered the surveillance market with system-level solutions and semiconductor products to capitalize on China’s domestic demand. Vimicro’s ADSs each represent four ordinary shares and are traded on the NASDAQ Global Market exchange under the ticker symbol “VIMC.”

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Vimicro’s expectations and forecasts, contain forward-looking statements. Vimicro may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on forms 20-F and 6-K, etc., in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Vimicro’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s ability to develop and sell new mobile multimedia products; the expected growth of the mobile multimedia market; the Company’s ability to increase sales of notebook camera multimedia processors; the Company’s ability to retain existing customers and acquire new customers and respond to competitive market conditions; the Company’s ability to respond in a timely manner to the evolving multimedia market and changing consumer preferences and industry standards and to stay abreast of technological changes; the Company’s ability to secure sufficient foundry capacity in a timely manner; the company’s ability to effectively protect its intellectual property and the risk that it may infringe on the intellectual property of others; and cyclicality of the semiconductor industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Vimicro’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Vimicro does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and Vimicro undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Contact:
Vimicro International Corporation
Mr. John Harmon, CFA, VP of Finance
Phone: +86 186 1151 1730 (Beijing)
E-mail: john.harmon@vimicro.com

(TEAR) Accomplished International Ophthalmic Industry Executive Joins TearLab

SAN DIEGO, April 21, 2014  — TearLab Corporation (Nasdaq:TEAR) (TSX:TLB) (“TearLab” or the “Company”) today announced the appointment of Paul Smith to its senior management team in the newly created position of Vice President, International.

Mr. Smith’s mandate will be the development and execution of a comprehensive international business strategy for TearLab.

Mr. Smith brings a wealth of international ophthalmic sales and marketing, operations and general management experience to the Company. He joins TearLab from his current position as Global Marketing Manager within the Surgical Cataract Franchise at Alcon Laboratories Inc. (“Alcon”). In that role, he was responsible for portfolio management, strategy formulation and implementation for Alcon’s largest device franchise, representing over $1 billion in annual revenue. His 12 years of progressive experience at Alcon includes previous positions involving surgical/instrumentation, pharmaceutical and consumer business unit operations and strategy management in global markets.

“Alcon is well-recognized as a leader in the ophthalmic space, both at home and abroad,” commented TearLab’s CEO, Elias Vamvakas. “Paul’s experience at Alcon brings an important depth of knowledge of the international ophthalmic device and pharmaceutical space to TearLab’s management team, and we are very pleased to have attracted an executive of his caliber to this important new position.”

Inducement Grant Under NASDAQ Rule 5635(c)(4)

Upon extending the employment offer to Mr. Smith, a majority of the independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors approved the grant of an option to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The stock option has a ten-year term and a per share exercise price equal to the higher of (i) the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market on April 21, 2014 or (ii) the prior five-day volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market at the close of business on April 21, 2014. The stock option has a vesting commencement date of April 21, 2014, Mr. Smith’s start date with the Company, and will vest in equal annual increments over a three year period, subject to Mr. Smith’s continued service with the Company through each applicable vesting date. In addition, the stock option will fully accelerate as to vesting in the event of a change of control prior to Mr. Smith’s termination of service. The stock option grant was made as an inducement that was material to Mr. Smith’s acceptance of employment with the Company and was granted as an employment inducement award pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).

About TearLab Corporation

TearLab Corporation (www.tearlab.com) develops and markets lab-on-a-chip technologies that enable eye care practitioners to improve standard of care by objectively and quantitatively testing for disease markers in tears at the point-of-care. The TearLab® Osmolarity Test, for diagnosing Dry Eye Disease, is the first assay developed for the award-winning TearLab Osmolarity System. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, TearLab Corporation’s common shares trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol ‘TEAR’ and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘TLB.’

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about TearLab. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the future potential of the TearLab Osmolarity System and the related impact on our sales. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Actual events or results may differ materially. Many factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement, including the factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including but not limited to our annual and quarterly reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Stephen Kilmer
         (647) 872-4849
         skilmer@tearlab.com

(NYNY) Submits $1 Million Application Fee for Catskills Casino License

Empire Resorts, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Empire”) (NASDAQ-GM:NYNY) today submitted the $1 million application fee to the New York State Gaming Commission for a destination gaming resort license (“Gaming Facility License”) in the Catskills. Pursuant to the Request for Applications (“RFA”), an individual, entity, consortium or other party evincing interest in a Gaming Facility License becomes an applicant upon payment of the $1 million application fee. Such fee must be paid by April 23, 2014 in advance of a mandatory applicant conference.

“We have been working diligently on this project for over three years. Adelaar is a project that is well positioned to meet the RFA’s requirement to be open 24 months after a license is granted,” said Empire Chairman Emanuel Pearlman. “We are continuing our partnership with local upstate stakeholders and we look forward to providing the New York State Facility Location Board with a comprehensive application package that exceeds the requirements of the RFA.”

The payment of the $1 million application fee is an important first step of the overall vetting process that will determine the award of a Gaming Facility License in the Hudson Valley/Catskills region of upstate New York. Empire Resorts previously announced it has planned a four-star hotel that will have approximately 391 rooms. The proposed gaming facility is expected to include a 70,000-square foot gaming floor with a variety of table games and slots machines, restaurants and beverage outlets, a conference center, meeting rooms, spa and salon, and entertainment venues.

Empire has in place essentially all of the approvals and permits to commence construction immediately upon the awarding of a Gaming Facility License. This includes all zoning, master development and environmental approvals for the gaming facility.

In addition, the Town of Thompson Board (“Thompson Board”) recently voted in favor of supporting Empire’s application to the Facility Location Board for a Gaming Facility License. Empire previously announced it has signed a Labor Peace Agreement with the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, and our construction manager has signed a Project Labor Agreement with the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council.

About Empire Resorts

Empire Resorts owns and operates, through its subsidiary Monticello Raceway Management, Inc., the Monticello Casino & Raceway, a harness racing track and casino located in Monticello, New York, and is 90 miles from midtown Manhattan. Further information is available at www.empireresorts.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include statements about our plans, strategies, financial performance, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “likely,” “will,” “would” and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Empire and our management team, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, levels of spending in business and leisure segments as well as consumer confidence; plans for signing and closing on definitive transaction documents; the construction commencement date for the gaming facility; relationships with associates and labor unions and changes in labor law; the financial condition of, and our relationships with, third-party property owners and hospitality venture partners; changes in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets where we operate; the timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals for the development project, including the issuance of a Gaming Facility License to us; changes in federal, state or local tax law; general volatility of the capital markets and our ability to access the capital markets to secure necessary financing. A more complete description of these risks and uncertainties can be found in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

(TEDU) Signs Cooperation Agreement With Bank of China Consumer Finance Co.

BEIJING, April 21, 2014  — Tarena International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TEDU) (“Tarena” or the “Company”), a leading provider of professional education services in China, today announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with Bank of China Consumer Finance Co., Ltd. (BOCCFC) to provide financing services for Tarena students. Pursuant to the agreement, BOCCFC will offer student loans to Tarena students to assist them in paying for tuition fees. BOCCFC, in addition to Bank of Beijing Consumer Finance Company and CreditEase, becomes another third-party financing institution that has formed a cooperative relationship with Tarena.

“We welcome BOCCFC in becoming one of Tarena’s financing partners for providing student loans to our students,” said Shaoyun Han, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Tarena. “The participation of BOCCFC further diversified payment options and increased financing flexibility for our students. We look forward to a long term cooperation with BOCCFC.”

About Tarena International, Inc.

Tarena International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TEDU) is a leading provider of professional education services in China. The Company is the largest provider of IT professional education services in China with a market share of 8.3% as measured by revenues in 2013 according to IDC, a third-party research firm. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers courses in nine IT subjects and two non-IT subjects. Its courses provide students with practical education to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. Since its inception in 2002, Tarena has trained over 130,000 students, cooperated with more than 500 universities and colleges and placed students with approximately 35,000 corporate employers in a variety of industries. For further information, please visit http://ir.tarena.com.cn.

CONTACT: For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

         Tarena International, Inc.
         Christina Zhu
         Tel: +86-10-5621 9451
         Email: zhumy@tarena.com.cn

(ASTM) Definitive Agreement to Acquire Sanofi’s Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Business

Acquisition of Landmark Autologous Cell Therapy Portfolio and Manufacturing Centers in U.S. and Europe Positions Aastrom as a Global Leader in Regenerative Medicine

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 21, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASTM), the leading developer of patient-specific, expanded multicellular therapies for the treatment of severe, chronic cardiovascular diseases, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sanofi’s Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine (CTRM) business for a purchase price of $6.5 million, with $4 million payable in cash at closing and $2.5 million payable in the form of a promissory note. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is scheduled to close in approximately three weeks.

Through the CTRM acquisition, Aastrom is acquiring global commercial rights to three marketed autologous cell therapy products. Carticel^® (autologous cultured chondrocytes) is an autologous chondrocyte implant (ACI) currently marketed in the United States for the treatment of articular cartilage defects. Epicel^® (cultured epidermal autografts) is a permanent skin replacement for full thickness burns greater than or equal to 30% of total body surface area, and is marketed in countries around the world. MACI^® (matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implant) is a third-generation ACI product currently marketed in the European Union. Revenues of those three products were $44 million in 2013. Aastrom will also acquire global manufacturing and production centers located in the United States and Denmark.

“The acquisition of Sanofi’s CTRM business is a transformative transaction that positions Aastrom as a fully-integrated global regenerative medicine company,” said Nick Colangelo, president and chief executive officer of Aastrom. “The CTRM business brings us global manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities that are structured to support the current portfolio of marketed products as well as our future product development plans. This transaction also provides us with a platform to generate operating income to support the development of our high-potential pipeline products and continued growth through additional strategic transactions.”

“Sanofi’s CTRM business, a pioneering organization with more than 20 years of experience in cell therapy and regenerative medicine, developed and marketed some of the first regenerative medicine products in the world,” continued Mr. Colangelo. “We look forward to working with the talented CTRM team to build Aastrom into the leading cell therapy company in the regenerative medicine field.”

Sanofi acquired the CTRM business in 2011 through the acquisition of Genzyme Corporation.

Carticel^® (autologous cultured chondrocytes), an autologous chondrocyte implant (ACI) for the treatment of articular cartilage defects, was approved by the FDA in 1997 and has had more than 22,000 implants performed since that time. MACI^® (matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implant), is a third-generation ACI product commercially available in the European Union since 1998, with more than 10,000 patients treated to date. Epicel^® (cultured epidermal autografts), a permanent skin replacement for full thickness burns greater than or equal to 30% of total body surface area, is approved for use as a humanitarian use device in the United States and supplied to patients outside the U.S. on a named-patient basis.

Aastrom Biosciences

Aastrom Biosciences is the leader in developing patient-specific, expanded multicellular therapies for use in the treatment of patients with severe, chronic cardiovascular diseases. The company’s proprietary cell-processing technology enables the manufacture of ixmyelocel-T, a patient-specific multicellular therapy expanded from a patient’s own bone marrow and delivered directly to damaged tissues. Aastrom has advanced ixmyelocel-T into late-stage clinical development, including a Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. For more information, please visit Aastrom’s website at www.aastrom.com.

The Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3663

This document contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements concerning the acquisition of Sanofi’s Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine business pursuant to Aastrom’s asset purchase agreement with Sanofi, including the timing and ability to close the acquisition and the ability of the combined business to generate operating income, among others. These statements are often, but are not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “expects,” “we believe,” “we intend,” and similar words or phrases, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “potential,” “could,” “may,” or similar expressions. Actual results may differ significantly from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that may result in differences are the inherent uncertainties associated with the closing of the acquisition described herein, regulatory approval requirements, the ability to retain key employees from Sanofi, the timing and cost associated with consolidating the Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine business with Aastrom’s existing business, and the availability of resources and the allocation of resources among different potential uses. We also encourage investors to consider the risks and other significant factors discussed in greater detail in Aastrom’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2014 and other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views and Aastrom does not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release except as required by law.

CONTACT: Media contact:
         Andrea Coan
         Berry & Company
         acoan@berrypr.com
         (212) 253-8881

         Investor contact:
         Chad Rubin
         The Trout Group
         crubin@troutgroup.com
         (646) 378-2947

(CBEY) Birch Communications to Acquire

Transaction Values Cbeyond at Approximately $323 Million

ATLANTA, April 21, 2014  — Birch Communications, Inc., a leading provider of business focused communications, cloud and managed services based in Atlanta and Cbeyond, Inc. (Nasdaq:CBEY), the technology ally to small and mid-sized businesses also based in Atlanta, jointly announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Birch will acquire Cbeyond in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $323 million.

Cbeyond stockholders will receive between $9.97 and $10.00 per share in cash. The exact amount will be determined based on stock transactions relating to previously granted stock awards to employees that occur after execution of the definitive agreement. At $9.97 per share, the purchase price represents a premium of 56.8% over Cbeyond’s stock price on November 5, 2013, the trading date before Cbeyond announced its process to explore strategic alternatives, and a premium of 40.8% over the closing price of Cbeyond’s stock on Thursday April 17, 2014.

Birch noted that the transaction:

• Creates a nationwide communications, cloud and managed services provider with approximately $700 million in annual revenue and approximately 200,000 business customers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Puerto Rico.
• Serves customers at every stage of their business lifecycle – from an initial startup, to all sectors of the small- and medium-sized business (SMB) marketplace, to an enterprise requiring a national solution across multiple offices and data centers.
• Creates a nationwide IP-based network with approximately 10,000 fiber route miles, over 500 fiber-lit buildings, 570 collocations and 5 data centers.

“This transaction will create a nationwide communications and technology services powerhouse and significantly advances our strategy to drive top-line revenue growth by enhancing the premier communications, cloud and managed services that are available to our business customers,” said Vincent M. Oddo, president and CEO of Birch. “The combined company will have a nationwide IP-network with a significant fiber infrastructure, an extensive data center presence in multiple markets, and a relentless focus on providing superior customer service.”

James Geiger, founder, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Cbeyond said, “After a thorough six-month strategic review process in which we evaluated a wide range of alternatives in addition to a sale, the Cbeyond board of directors determined that this all-cash transaction with Birch maximizes stockholder value through an attractive premium. We have been strengthening the Cbeyond franchise with our 2.0 transformation; the wider reach with Birch enables the combined companies to increase service levels with a broad array of products to a larger number of customers.”

“We look forward to welcoming the Cbeyond customers and employees into the Birch family in the very near future. Providing award-winning customer service will continue to be our number-one priority as we move forward as a combined company,” said Chris Aversano, COO of Birch. “Having successfully completed more than 20 acquisitions, we are confident in our ability to execute a fast and seamless integration. We’ve already started on our integration planning and, as in prior transactions, we expect to begin implementation of those plans upon the closing.”

“We also look forward to integrating the Cbeyond sales organization, including management, representatives, partners, dealers and support staff into the Birch sales family,” said Christopher Ramsey, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Birch. “We are committed to making this a smooth and productive transition for all divisions of the sales organization.”

The Cbeyond transaction is the latest in a history of 21 acquisitions that Birch has completed in recent years. “The additional revenue scale, customer density, network reach, and product offerings will allow us to comprehensively meet the evolving, long-term needs of our business customers,” said Mr. Oddo. “We’re making this investment to serve our business customers in the best way possible for many years to come.”

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies. The transaction is expected to close within six months, subject to customary conditions, including necessary approvals from federal and state regulators and the Cbeyond stockholders. Birch has obtained financing commitments from PNC Capital Markets LLC and Jefferies Finance LLC.

Lazard is acting as sole financial advisor and Jones Day is acting as legal advisor to Birch in the transaction.

UBS Investment Bank is acting as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP is acting as legal advisor to Cbeyond in the transaction.

About Birch

Birch Communications, Inc. provides IP-based communications, cloud and managed services to businesses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Puerto Rico. Birch services include:  voice, broadband, Internet access, hosted services, managed services, wireless voice, wireless data and many other communications, cloud and managed services. Voice and broadband services are, in most cases, delivered using the Birch secure IP-network. Please visit www.birch.com for more information.

About Cbeyond

Cbeyond, Inc. (Nasdaq:CBEY), is the technology ally for small and mid-sized businesses. We enable our customers to focus on their core business activities by shifting the burden of IT infrastructure management to us. We deliver cloud services, communications and connectivity through award-winning enterprise data centers and a private, IP enterprise network. Founded in 1999, Cbeyond is a technology service provider with a long history of delivering technology and service innovation for small and mid-sized businesses. Please visit www.cbeyond.com for more information.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

A stockholder meeting will be announced soon to obtain stockholder approval in connection with the proposed merger. Cbeyond expects to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a proxy statement and other relevant documents in connection with the proposed merger. Cbeyond investors are urged to read the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about Cbeyond, Birch and the proposed merger. Cbeyond investors may obtain a free copy of these materials (when they are available) and other documents filed by Cbeyond with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, at Cbeyond’s website at www.cbeyond.com or by sending a written request to Cbeyond at 320 Interstate North Parkway, Suite 500, Atlanta, Georgia 30339, Attention: General Counsel.

Participants in the Solicitation

Cbeyond and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in soliciting proxies from its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of Cbeyond’s stockholders in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in Cbeyond definitive proxy statement for its special stockholder meeting. Additional information regarding these individuals and any direct or indirect interests they may have in the proposed merger will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement when and if it is filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this filing may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding the merger and the ability to consummate the merger. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Cbeyond undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (1) Cbeyond may be unable to obtain stockholder approval as required for the merger; (2) conditions to the closing of the merger may not be satisfied and required regulatory approvals may not be obtained; (3) the merger may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (4) the business of Cbeyond may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the merger; (5) the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the merger; (6) Cbeyond may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (7) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Agreement; (8) risks that the merger disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the merger; and (9) other risks to consummation of the merger, including the risk that the merger will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all. If the merger is consummated, Cbeyond stockholders will cease to have any equity interest in Cbeyond and will have no right to participate in its earnings and future growth. Additional factors that may affect the future results of Cbeyond are set forth in its filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof.

(SRPT) NDA to FDA for Eteplirsen for the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), a developer of innovative RNA-based therapeutics, today announced it plans to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2014 for the approval of eteplirsen for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Eteplirsen is Sarepta’s lead exon-skipping drug candidate in development for the treatment of patients with DMD who have a genotype amenable to skipping of exon 51.

The plan to submit an NDA for eteplirsen by the end of 2014 is based on a guidance letter from the Agency that proposed a strategy regarding the submission of an NDA for eteplirsen under a potential Accelerated Approval pathway and served as the final meeting minutes for four meetings that took place between November, 2013 and March, 2014. The Agency stated that “with additional data to support the efficacy and safety of eteplirsen for the treatment of DMD, an NDA should be fileable,” and outlined examples of additional data and analysis that, if positive, will be important to enhance the acceptability of an NDA filing by addressing areas of ongoing concern in the existing dataset. Additionally, the Agency provided clear guidance on an open-label, historically controlled confirmatory study of eteplirsen, as well as initial guidance on a placebo-controlled study of one or more follow-on DMD drug candidates, which, like the open-label study, could also be considered an acceptable confirmatory study to verify the clinical benefit of eteplirsen in the event of an accelerated approval.

“As we announce our plan to submit an eteplirsen NDA by the end of 2014, we are very pleased with the detailed guidance that the FDA has provided us on a potential eteplirsen approval pathway and their support of a historically controlled eteplirsen confirmatory study,” said Chris Garabedian, president and chief executive officer of Sarepta Therapeutics. “We also appreciate that the FDA shares our urgency in dosing a broader base of eteplirsen patients and has encouraged us to begin the clinical program with our follow-on exon-skipping drugs as soon as possible.”

Based on the Agency’s guidance, Sarepta plans to initiate several additional clinical studies with eteplirsen later this year in exon-51 amenable genotypes. These studies will include a clinical trial with predefined efficacy endpoints for ambulatory patients between the ages of 7 to 16 years who can walk a minimum distance, and two additional clinical trials that will evaluate safety and biomarkers in DMD patients younger than 7 years and DMD patients who have advanced in their disease progression to a point they cannot walk a minimum distance or have become non-ambulant. Additionally, Sarepta plans to initiate a placebo-controlled study with one or more of its follow-on DMD exon-skipping drug candidates by the end of the year.

“We are excited to have guidance from the FDA that allows us to move quickly into additional clinical trials with eteplirsen to confirm our current understanding of eteplirsen’s safety profile, its effect on dystrophin production, and its impact on clinical outcomes in DMD patients,” said Edward Kaye, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Sarepta Therapeutics. “We are particularly pleased that the FDA shares our interest in accelerating the clinical development of our follow-on exon-skipping drugs and we expect to initiate enrollment in this trial later this year.”

Sarepta plans to immediately take steps to initiate the additional eteplirsen clinical studies with the goal of beginning dosing in the confirmatory study in the third quarter, with dosing in the additional trials (i.e., younger and more advanced DMD patients) to begin later this year. Once available, detailed study eligibility criteria and clinical site information will be posted on www.ClinicalTrials.gov and Let’s Skip Ahead, an online resource center from Sarepta for the DMD community available at www.SkipAhead.com.

Excerpts from the FDA’s letter on an NDA filing included:

“…with additional data to support the efficacy and safety of eteplirsen for the treatment of DMD, described below, an NDA should be fileable (assuming other aspects of the submitted application meet applicable standards). As we are sure you appreciate, however, our willingness to consider an application for filing cannot be taken to suggest the outcome of our review. We also note that if the application is filed, you should expect public discussion of the NDA at an Advisory Committee meeting.”

The FDA outlined two potential pathways to accelerated approval:

“1. The clinical data from Study 201/202 [Phase IIb clinical trial program] on 6-minute walk could be considered a finding on an intermediate clinical endpoint that could have the potential to support accelerated approval.”

Related to this first pathway to Accelerated Approval, the Agency stated that they have “significant concerns regarding our ability to draw valid conclusions based on the Study 201/202 data with respect to walking performance and other data,” and identified areas relating to the interpretation of the existing data set that will be addressed as part of an NDA review once the NDA is filed.

“2. We have discussed the possibility of using a number of modalities to quantify dystrophin in muscle biopsies, and discussed how these biomarkers might be used as a surrogate endpoint(s) to support accelerated approval.”

In evaluating this pathway, the FDA expressed concerns about methodological problems in the assessments of dystrophin and, “remain skeptical about the persuasiveness of the (dystrophin) data” and, as a result, the Agency is “uncertain whether the existing dystrophin biomarker data will be persuasive enough to serve as a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit.” However, the Agency further states that if they “were to find the biomarker data to be adequate upon detailed review, however, they would have the potential to support accelerated approval.” To that end, the Agency proposed “a collaborative effort in which we will work to better understand the methods and analyses used for the existing biomarker data,” and “also work together on methods for the collection of additional data that could be more reliable.”

Furthermore, the Agency suggested that “another approach to demonstrating an effect of eteplirsen on dystrophin protein production would be to obtain a fourth muscle biopsy in patients who are continuing in Study 202,” which could serve to enhance the acceptability of an NDA filing and accelerated approval.

Under either potential application of the Accelerated Approval pathway, the FDA’s letter included comments expressing both a desire for more eteplirsen safety and efficacy data and a willingness to consider supplemental data in an NDA filing or during an NDA review (following the NDA filing) from the ongoing Study 202 and early safety and biomarker data from a confirmatory eteplirsen study. The Agency also encouraged Sarepta to collect safety and biomarker data with eteplirsen in a broader population of patients, including DMD patients who were younger, older and non-ambulant, and previously treated with drisapersen.

Additional excerpts from the FDA’s letter on the eteplirsen and follow-on exon-skipping drug confirmatory studies:

“…any accelerated approval [of eteplirsen] would necessitate confirmatory studies to verify the clinical benefit. Confirmatory studies should be underway at the time of approval.”

The FDA outlined two approaches for confirmatory trials and urged Sarepta to “initiate both of these trials as soon as possible.”

“1. A historically-controlled trial might be acceptable to confirm clinical benefit following accelerated approval.”

“2. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of another PMO [phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer] with a similar mechanism of action, directed at a different exon (e.g., SRP-4053 or SRP-4045), with a demonstration of a correlation between dystrophin production and definitive clinical benefit on 6-minute walk or another measure, could provide confirmatory evidence of eteplirsen’s clinical benefit if approval were based on a surrogate endpoint.”

Conference Call Information

The conference call may be accessed by dialing 800.708.4539 for domestic callers and 847.619.6396 for international callers. The passcode for the call is 37151466. Please specify to the operator that you would like to join the “Sarepta Therapeutics Regulatory Update Call.” The conference call will be webcast live under the investor relations section of Sarepta’s website at www.sarepta.com. Please connect to Sarepta’s website several minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary. An audio replay will be available through May 5, 2014 by calling 888.843.7419 or 630.652.3042 and entering access code 37151466.

About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

DMD is an X-linked rare degenerative neuromuscular disorder causing severe progressive muscle loss and premature death. DMD affects approximately one in every 3,500 boys born worldwide. A devastating and incurable muscle-wasting disease, DMD is associated with specific errors in the gene that codes for dystrophin, a protein that plays a key structural role in muscle fiber function. Progressive muscle weakness in the lower limbs spreads to the arms, neck and other areas. Eventually, increasing difficulty in breathing due to respiratory muscle dysfunction requires ventilation support, and cardiac dysfunction can lead to heart failure. The condition is universally fatal, and death usually occurs before the age of 30.

About Eteplirsen and Sarepta’s Proprietary Exon-Skipping Platform Technology

Eteplirsen is Sarepta’s lead drug candidate and is designed to address the underlying cause of DMD by enabling the production of a functional dystrophin protein. Data from clinical studies of eteplirsen in DMD patients have demonstrated a broadly favorable safety and tolerability profile and restoration of dystrophin protein expression.

Eteplirsen uses Sarepta’s novel phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO)-based chemistry and proprietary exon-skipping technology to skip exon 51 of the dystrophin gene enabling the repair of specific genetic mutations that affect approximately 13 percent of the total DMD population. By skipping exon 51, eteplirsen may restore the gene’s ability to make a shorter, but still functional, form of dystrophin from messenger RNA, or mRNA. Promoting the synthesis of a truncated dystrophin protein is intended to stabilize or significantly slow the disease process and prolong and improve the quality of life for patients with DMD.

Sarepta also has seven additional PMO-based exon-skipping drugs in earlier stages of development that are intended to treat other genetic sub-groups of DMD patients by skipping exons 53, 45, 50, 44, 52, 55 or 8. Overall, Sarepta’s current pipeline of exon-skipping drug candidates has the potential to treat nearly half of all patients with DMD. In addition, the company is committed to exploring the potential of its technology in the future to address all patients with DMD who may be candidates for an exon skipping therapy, even those with rare genetic mutations.

About the Accelerated Approval Regulatory Pathway

To speed the development and availability of new medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases, the FDA has the authority to grant accelerated approval based on evidence that an investigational new drug provides a meaningful therapeutic benefit over existing treatments. The Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (FDASIA) of 2012 (Section 901) reinforced the FDA’s authority to grant marketing approval on the basis of adequate and well-controlled clinical trials that show the drug has an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. The FDA typically requires a drug sponsor to conduct post-marketing studies to verify and describe the clinical benefit of a medicine approved under the Accelerated Approval pathway.

For more information, please see “Accelerated Approval of New Drugs for Serious or Life-Threatening Illnesses” (21 C.F.R. Part 314, Subpart H) available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=314&showFR=1&subpartNode=21%3A5.0.1.1.4.8.

About Sarepta Therapeutics

Sarepta Therapeutics is focused on developing first-in-class RNA-based therapeutics to improve and save the lives of people affected by serious and life-threatening rare and infectious diseases. The Company’s diverse pipeline includes its lead program eteplirsen, for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as well as potential treatments for some of the world’s most lethal infectious diseases. Sarepta aims to build a leading, independent biotech company dedicated to translating its RNA-based science into transformational therapeutics for patients who face significant unmet medical needs. For more information, please visit us at www.sarepta.com.

Looking Statements and Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “believes or belief,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “intends,” “potential,” “possible,” “advance” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements about the timing of an NDA submission for eteplirsen in the treatment of DMD; the potential filing and acceptance of an NDA for eteplirsen by the FDA; the timing and submission of additional data, analysis and other information to the FDA necessary for the FDA to make regulatory determinations; the timing of and ability to initiate additional studies for eteplirsen and other follow-on exons; and the potential regulatory approval of eteplirsen on an accelerated pathway.

Each forward-looking statement contained in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others: we may not be able to comply with all FDA requests; the FDA may determine that substantial additional data is required for accelerated or other approval of eteplirsen or that our NDA submission for eteplirsen does not qualify for filing, even with additional information; the results of our ongoing and new clinical trials may not be positive; there may be delays in timelines relating to an NDA submission, initiating clinical trials, or making a product commercially available for regulatory or internal reasons; we may not be able to manufacture sufficient supply for clinical trials or commercialization; and those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Sarepta’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Sarepta’s other filings with the SEC.

Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect Sarepta’s business, results of operations and the trading price of Sarepta’s common stock. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties Sarepta faces, you are encouraged to review the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Sarepta does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof.

(UPIP) Closes Lenovo Patent License and Purchase Transaction

Unwired Planet, Inc. (NASDAQ:UPIP) announced it has completed its patent license and purchase transaction with Lenovo, initially disclosed on March 20, 2014. The agreements called for $100 million upfront payment for both a pre-payment on the license and for the sale of 142 patents. Net proceeds to Unwired Planet, after payments to Ericsson, total $70 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lenovo is licensed to Unwired Planet’s intellectual property portfolio for a number of years, covering standard essential, implementation, and application layer technology for mobile devices. Following the transaction, Unwired Planet’s portfolio consists of approximately 2,500 issued and pending US and foreign patents.

The patent purchase consists of 21 patent families owned by Unwired Planet, including patents for 3G and LTE mobile technologies and other important mobility patents.

About Unwired Planet

Unwired Planet, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPIP) is the inventor of the Mobile Internet and a premier intellectual property company focused exclusively on the mobile industry. The company’s patent portfolio includes technologies that allow mobile devices to connect to the Internet and enable mobile communications. The portfolio spans 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies, as well as cloud-based mobile applications and services. Unwired Planet’s portfolio includes patents related to key mobile technologies, including baseband mobile communications, mobile browsers, mobile advertising, push notification technology, maps and location based services, mobile application stores, social networking, mobile gaming, and mobile search. Unwired Planet is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. References in this release to Unwired Planet may be to Unwired Planet, Inc. or its subsidiaries.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Any statements in this press release with respect to future events or expectations, including statements regarding the Company’s licensing activities and expectations regarding enhancing shareholder value are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. These forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Notwithstanding changes that may occur with respect to matters relating to any forward looking statements, Unwired Planet assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this press release. For a detailed discussion of these and other factors that may cause these forward looking statements not to come true, please refer to the risk factors discussed in Unwired Planet’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. These documents are available at www.sec.gov or from Unwired Planet’s website at www.unwiredplanet.com.

(NBY) WoundSource Reports on the Role of in Treatment of ‘Flesh-Eating’ Infections

NovaBay^® Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: NBY), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that WoundSource™ has highlighted NovaBay’s NeutroPhase wound cleanser in a recent blog posting. The blog explains why NeutroPhase can play an important role in treating life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis, or ‘flesh-eating’ infections.

“WoundSource is a leading source of clinically reviewed wound care product information,” said Dr. Ron Najafi, CEO of NovaBay. “We’re very pleased that it has recognized NeutroPhase’s potential to help treat these terrible infections.”

In the blog posting, Dr. Bruce Ruben, founder and medical director of Encompass HealthCare in West Bloomfield, Michigan, describes new findings about “the vicious and deadly world of necrotizing fasciitis, the ghastly ‘flesh-eating disease’ that’s been widely reported by the media.”

As Dr. Ruben explains, “the main culprit in the infection is a very common bacterium that may be harmlessly colonizing on your skin right now called Group A streptococcus (GAS).”

In rare cases, however, the bacteria get into the deeper layers of the skin through a cut or scrape. There, as scientists have recently discovered, the microbes can produce toxins that impair the immune system’s ability to fight the infection. As a result, the bacteria can spread rapidly along the connective tissues that cover the muscles, “leaving dead, necrotic tissue in their wake,” Dr. Ruben writes.

About 25-30 percent of patients die, even with aggressive treatment. Many lose arms, legs or other body parts, because doctors have no choice but to cut off the dead tissue. “What makes these infections so ghastly are the disfiguring surgical excisions, amputations and scarring patients are left with if they survive,” writes Dr. Ruben.

There is reason for optimism, though, Dr. Ruben adds. Because the toxins are so important in enabling the rapid spread of the bacteria, neutralizing those toxins can be crucial is fighting the disease. That’s why NovaBay’s NeutroPhase is promising. As Dr. Ruben writes, “NeutroPhase, a 0.01% pure hypochlorous acid saline solution with no bleach impurities, has been shown in extensive in vitro testing to kill bacteria in seconds and has the ability to neutralize toxins generated by GAS.”

In fact, NeutroPhase has already been used successfully in the treatment of patients with ‘flesh-eating’ infections at Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California, as described in a recent paper in the journal WOUNDS. None of the 17 patients treated to date has died. None has even lost a limb or any other body part. “We believe that NeutroPhase will become the new standard of care in treating these devastating infections,” said Dr. Najafi.

About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Going Beyond Antibiotics^®

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on addressing the global unmet therapeutic needs of the localized and topical anti-infective market.

About NeutroPhase^®

NeutroPhase^® is a 510(k)-cleared wound cleanser and is intended for use under the supervision of healthcare professionals for cleansing and removal of foreign material, including: microorganisms and debris from wounds; cleaning minor cuts, minor burns, superficial abrasions, and minor irritations of the skin; as well as moistening absorbent wound dressings. It is also intended for moistening and debriding acute and chronic dermal lesions, such as: Stage I-IV pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers, leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, post surgical wounds, first and second degree burns, as well as grafted and donor sites.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements and opinions, which are based upon management’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates, projections and beliefs. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the general use of antibiotics in the United States and NovaBay’s possible effect on that use. The words “expect,” “potential,” “believe” and “will” are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or achievements to be materially different and adverse from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to difficulties or delays in development, clinical trial, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the company’s product candidates, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the product candidates, the uncertainty of patent protection for the company’s intellectual property or trade secrets, the company’s ability to obtain additional financing as necessary and unanticipated research and development and other costs. Other risks relating to NovaBay and Aganocide compounds, including risks that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements in this press release, are detailed in NovaBay’s latest Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially under the heading “Risk Factors.” The forward-looking statements in this release speak only as of this date, and NovaBay disclaims any intent or obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement except as required by law.

(MPET) Receives Post-Completion Payment for Sale of Onshore Australia Assets

(GOGO) Expands Global Commercial Airline Sales Team

ITASCA, Ill., April 17, 2014  — Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO), a leading aircraft communications service provider to the global aviation industry, announces today that it has expanded its global sales team, which now includes more than 20 sales and support staff with physical presence in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, Israel, Singapore and Japan.

“We continue to invest in our global expansion efforts and we have been pleased with our ability to hire some of the best and brightest in this industry,” said Niels Steenstrup, senior vice president of Global Airline sales.  “We have experienced industry professionals dedicated to each region of the world.”

Most recent additions to the team include:

Ray Villar – Ray is the new regional sales director for Latin America. Ray has more than 16 years in sales and marketing experience, as well as business development experience, in both the telecommunications and aerospace industries. He started his career as a Navy commissioned officer and dedicated his military career to communications requirements. He has held senior management positions at Alcatel-Lucent, EMS Aviation, and Honeywell before joining Gogo.

Nick Silvester – Nick is the director of sales for the Middle East and Africa. Nick has extensive customer support, sales and business development experience in in-flight connectivity and entertainment. Prior to joining Gogo, Nick has held senior positions with Panasonic Avionics, Thales and Honeywell. Nick is now based in Dubai.

Soong Teck Kuay – Kuay joins Gogo as director of business development for Asia Pacific. Prior to Gogo, Kuay was head of in-flight entertainment sales for Thales in Asia and spearheaded their wins in Air India, Indian Airlines, HNA, VNA and JAL amongst others. He is currently based in Singapore.

“Ray, Nick and Kuay are great additions to our expanding team of sales professionals in Gogo’s global organization,” added Steenstrup.  “I’m confident that these additions will give us added support in gaining new international commercial airline partnerships.”

Commercial airlines interested in finding out more about Gogo’s products and services can reach the global sales team at airlinesales@gogoair.com

About Gogo

Gogo is the global leader of in-flight connectivity and wireless in-flight digital entertainment solutions. Using Gogo’s exclusive products and services, passengers with Wi-Fi enabled devices can get online on more than 2,000 Gogo equipped commercial aircraft. In-flight connectivity partners include Aeromexico, American Airlines, Air Canada, AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America. In-flight entertainment partners include Aeromexico, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Scoot and US Airways. In addition to its commercial airline business, Gogo has more than 6,300 business aircraft outfitted with its communications services.

Back on the ground, Gogo’s 700+ employees in Itasca, IL, Broomfield, CO and various locations overseas are working to continually redefine flying as a productive, socially connected, and all-around more satisfying experience. Connect with Gogo at www.gogoair.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gogo and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gogo.

(GALT) Announces First Patient Dosed in Second

NORCROSS, Ga., April 17, 2014  — Galectin Therapeutics (Nasdaq:GALT), the leading developer of therapeutics that target galectin proteins to treat fibrosis and cancer, announced today that the first patient in cohort 2 of its Phase 1 clinical trial of GR-MD-02 in patients with NASH with advanced fibrosis has been successfully dosed with 4 mg/kg, which is double the dose given in cohort 1. Cohort 2, as with all phases of the clinical trial, was initiated in full compliance with the rules, regulations, and specific conditions set forth by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this Phase 1 clinical trial. The second cohort follows highly successful results from the first cohort showing that 2 mg/kg was safe and very well tolerated, and that GR-MD-02 treatment resulted in significant improvement in multiple biomarkers of fibrosis and liver inflammation in patients with NASH with advanced fibrosis (see full results: http://galectintherapeutics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/20140401GT020FirstCohortFINAL.pdf). The remaining patients in cohort 2 are expected to be enrolled over the next few weeks and we anticipate reporting the results of cohort 2 around the end of July.

“We were extremely pleased with the results of the first cohort, which demonstrated significant biomarker effects on fibrosis and inflammation in all the patients treated with GR-MD-02, coupled with good safety and tolerability,” said Dr. Peter G. Traber, President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Medical Officer of Galectin Therapeutics Inc. “These positive results have propelled the enrollment of the second cohort with strong participation across our clinical trial sites. We anticipate the cohort 2 results will further support the use of GR-MD-02 in patients with NASH and advanced fibrosis, with the goal of reversing fibrosis and preventing complications of cirrhosis and liver transplantation.”

The trial is titled “A Multi-Center, Partially Blinded, Maximum Tolerated Multiple Dose Escalation, Phase 1 Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety of GR-MD-02 in Subjects with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) with Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis.” Trial design details can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01899859?term=gt-020&rank=1. In 2013, Galectin Therapeutics received Fast Track designation from the FDA for this clinical development program. FDA grants Fast Track designation to help expedite review and approval of drugs in development that treat serious or life threatening diseases and fill an unmet medical need.

About Fatty Liver Disease with Advanced Fibrosis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), also known as fatty liver disease, has become a common disease of the liver with the rise in obesity rates, estimated to affect nine to 15 million people, including children, in the U.S.  Fatty liver disease is characterized by the presence of fat in the liver along with inflammation and damage in people who drink little or no alcohol. Over time, patients with fatty liver disease can develop fibrosis, or scarring of the liver, and it is estimated that as many as three million individuals will develop cirrhosis, a severe liver disease where liver transplantation is the only current treatment available. Approximately 6,300 liver transplants are done on an annual basis in the U.S. There are no drug therapies approved for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

About Galectin Therapeutics

Galectin Therapeutics (Nasdaq:GALT) is developing promising carbohydrate-based therapies for the treatment of fibrotic liver disease and cancer based on the Company’s unique understanding of galectin proteins, key mediators of biologic function. We are leveraging extensive scientific and development expertise as well as established relationships with external sources to achieve cost effective and efficient development. We are pursuing a clear development pathway to clinical enhancement and commercialization for our lead compounds in liver fibrosis and cancer. Additional information is available at www.galectintherapeutics.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or future financial performance, and use words such as “may,” “estimate,” “anticipated,” “expect” and others. They are based on our current expectations and are subject to factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements. These statements include those regarding the clinical trial, including the expected timing of results for the second cohort, and potential benefits and therapeutic effects of GR-MD-02. Factors that could cause our actual performance to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, among others, that we may not be successful in developing effective treatments and/or obtaining the requisite approvals for the use of GR-MD-02 or any of our other drugs in development. Our current clinical trial and any future clinical studies may not produce positive results in a timely fashion, if at all, and could prove time consuming and costly. We may have difficulty enrolling new patients, which could impact timing and costs. Results from the first cohort of Phase 1 are not necessarily indicative of future results in the clinical trial. Plans regarding development, approval and marketing of any of our drugs are subject to change at any time based on the changing needs of our company as determined by management and regulatory agencies. Regardless of the results of any of our development programs, we may be unsuccessful in developing partnerships with other companies that would allow us to further develop and/or fund any studies or trials. To date, we have incurred operating losses since our inception, and our ability to successfully develop and market drugs may be impacted by our ability to manage costs and finance our continuing operations. For a discussion of additional factors impacting our business, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and our subsequent filings with the SEC. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although subsequent events may cause our views to change, we disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
         Peter G. Traber, MD, 678-620-3186
         President, CEO & CMO
         ir@galectintherapeutics.com

(LIVE) Among Most Shorted NASDAQ Stocks, Analyst: “Extremely Oversold”

(CNMD) Selects Trelleborg’s Seals and Gaskets

(HART) Collaborator Successfully Transplants Regenerated Esophagus into Rat

Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:HART), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing regenerated organs for transplant, initially focused on the trachea, announces that a research team led by Paolo Macchiarini, MD, PhD at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has successfully transplanted a regenerated esophagus into a rat using a bioreactor developed by HART. Dr. Macchiarini has previously overseen several successful regenerated trachea transplants in human patients using a bioreactor developed by HART.

The research detailing the new procedure, “Experimental orthotopic transplantation of a tissue engineered oesophagus in rats,” was published today in Nature Communications and is available to read at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms4562.

This research will also be presented at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting 2014 to be held April 26-30 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Canada.

David Green, CEO of Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, said, “We congratulate Professor Macchiarini and his research team for this breakthrough in the development of a regenerated esophagus for transplant. We are honored to have been able to support this work by adapting our trachea regeneration bioreactor specifically for the regeneration of the esophagus. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Professor Macchiarini in developing this technology with the goal of performing the first human transplant of a regenerated esophagus.”

Despite several attempts, it has been proven difficult to grow tissue to replace a damaged esophagus. In this new study, the researchers created the bioengineered organs by using esophagi from rats and removing all the cells. With the cells gone, a scaffold remains in which the structure as well as mechanical and chemical properties of the organ are preserved. The produced scaffolds were then reseeded with cells from the bone marrow. The cells adhered to the biological scaffold and started to show organ-specific characteristics within three weeks.

The cultured tissues were used to replace segments of the esophagus in rats. All rats survived and after two weeks the researchers found indications of the major components in the regenerated graft: epithelium, muscle cells, blood vessels and nerves.

“We believe that these very promising findings represent major advances toward the clinical translation of tissue engineered esophagi,” said Dr. Macchiarini.

About Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology

Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology makes regenerated organs for transplant. Our first product, the HART-Trachea, is intended to replace or repair a trachea that has been severely damaged by either trachea cancer or physical trauma. Our technology has been used in eight human trachea transplants to date approved under compassionate use exemptions, but none of our products are yet approved by a government regulatory authority for marketing. On November 1, 2013, HART was spun-off from Harvard Bioscience. The trademark “Harvard Apparatus” is used under a sublicense agreement with Harvard Bioscience, who has licensed the right to use such trademark from Harvard University.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release are “forward-looking” and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These “forward-looking” statements include statements relating to, among other things, the planned commercialization efforts and marketing approvals of HART’s products as well as the success thereof and the availability of a market for the HART securities. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including among other things, market conditions that may cause results to differ materially from the statements set forth in this press release. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to such statements to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any changes in the events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

(ONVO) Comments on Misleading and Inaccurate Reports

SAN DIEGO, April 15, 2014  — Organovo Holdings, Inc. (NYSE MKT: ONVO), the San Diego-based regenerative medicine company focused on using its breakthrough NovoGen 3D human tissue printing technology to create tissue on demand for medical research and therapeutic applications, today commented on recent reports published by two unaffiliated firms:

“Over the past two months, new and unknown firms have issued articles and reports on Organovo, without speaking to Organovo management for information or perspective on Organovo’s business or opportunities.  One firm appears to have been formed in February 2014 and has not issued any other reports other than on Organovo; the other firm has a mailing address at a virtual, rent-an-office.

“We have had the opportunity to review these reports in detail and can confirm that they contain inaccurate information and that they are exceptionally – and likely intentionally – misleading.  Based on the source of the reports and the blatantly negative tone, we believe they were issued by or at the request of a short seller or short-sellers, who may profit from a decrease in Organovo’s stock price following the issuance of these kinds of reports.

“Organovo remains focused on the development of 3D human tissues, including remaining on track for launch of its 3D Liver product in 2014.  The Company believes, based on the feedback from its collaborators and scientific advisors, that the demonstrated performance of the 3D Liver to date provides it with the opportunity to redefine the category of in vitro assays.  The Company’s opportunities in in vitro assays include liver, cancer, skin, and kidney tissue markets and in 2013 it signed research collaborations with top corporate and academic partners in three of those areas.  In 2014, Organovo has signed collaboration with the US National Institutes of Health to develop eye tissues and to integrate 3D bioprinting with traditional drug screening technologies.

“The Company continues to execute on its plan to drive to near term revenue starting this calendar year.  The Company also is currently in the midst of preclinical development on early bioprinted tissues for direct surgical therapy.  The Company’s Board and management team remain focused on these goals, and remain confident in the Company’s technology and team.”

About Organovo Holdings, Inc.

Organovo designs and creates functional, three-dimensional human tissues for medical research and therapeutic applications. The Company is collaborating with pharmaceutical and academic partners to develop human biological disease models in three dimensions. These 3D human tissues have the potential to accelerate the drug discovery process, enabling treatments to be developed faster and at lower cost. In addition to numerous scientific publications, the Company’s technology has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, The Economist, and numerous others. Organovo is changing the shape of medical research and practice. Learn more at www.organovo.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the Company’s current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause the Company’s actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the results of the Company’s future studies, including that the results from future studies may not support further development and/or commercialization of its product candidates; the Company may not successfully develop, market and sell products based on its technology; the expected benefits and efficacy of the Company’s products and technology; and the Company’s business, research, product development, regulatory approval, marketing and distribution plans and strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including its prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on November 27, 2013 and its transition report on Form 10-KT filed with the SEC on May 24, 2013 as well as its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

(AKBA) Announces Completion of Enrollment in its Phase 2b Clinical Study of AKB-6548

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel proprietary therapeutics based on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) biology and the commercialization of these products for patients with kidney disease, today announced it has completed enrollment in its ongoing 200-patient Phase 2b study of AKB-6548 for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients who are not dependent on dialysis.

AKB-6548, a once-daily, oral investigational therapy, is designed to achieve a coordinated and natural increase in red blood cell production and iron utilization that is similar to the body’s adaptive response to hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, resulting from modest increases in altitude. AKB-6548 acts by inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) enzyme, leading to stabilization and increased levels of HIF, the primary regulator of this response to hypoxia.

“We are on track to execute our strategy to develop a convenient, oral therapy with the potential to provide patients a predictable, meaningful and sustained improvement in their hemoglobin levels,” said John P. Butler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akebia. “The completion of enrollment in our Phase 2b study for AKB-6548 is an important milestone for Akebia, and we are working to develop a clinical data package that can position AKB-6548 as the best-in-class new therapy for the treatment of anemia secondary to CKD.”

The Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of AKB-6548 for the treatment of anemia associated with CKD in patients who are not on dialysis. There are 209 patients enrolled in the study at more than 50 sites across the United States. The primary purpose of this study is to demonstrate an adaptive approach to dosing AKB-6548 that will enable subjects to appropriately raise their hemoglobin levels from baseline without excessive excursions to greater than 13.0 g/dL.

“Anemia associated with CKD remains a serious and under-treated public health risk, associated with higher rates of morbidity and mortality,” said Robert Shalwitz, Chief Medical Officer of Akebia. “The well-established risks associated with injectable erythropoiesis-stimulating agents have greatly curtailed their use, creating an urgent need for an alternative for combating anemia that can safely and significantly increase hemoglobin levels in CKD patients with anemia.”

Anemia associated with CKD affects about 1.8 million people in the U.S. The current standard of care, injectable erythropoiesis-stimulation agents (ESAs), induces the body to produce red blood cells using supra-physiological levels of erythropoietin-receptor agonists usually in conjunction with supplemental administration of iron. AKB-6548, by contrast, has the potential to provide a more predictable and sustained level of improvement in hemoglobin levels while avoiding the rapid spikes in erythropoietin levels that are commonly seen with ESAs.

Akebia expects to announce results from the Phase 2b study in the fourth quarter of 2014.

About AKB-6548

AKB-6548 is a once-daily, oral therapy currently in development for the treatment of anemia secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD). AKB-6548 is designed to achieve a meaningful and sustained increase in red blood cell production and iron utilization that is similar to the body’s natural adaptive response to hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, resulting from modest increases in altitude. AKB-6548 acts by inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) enzyme, leading to stabilization and increased levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), the primary regulator of this response to hypoxia. AKB-6548 is currently in Phase 2b development for the treatment of anemia secondary to CKD in patients who are not dependent on dialysis, and plans are underway to expand clinical development with a Phase 2 study in the dialysis population. AKB-6548 is being developed as an important alternative to injectable erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), which are associated with a higher risk for increased mortality and adverse cardiovascular events, must be injected intravenously or subcutaneously, and often require supplemental administration of iron. As a potential best-in-class HIF-PH inhibitor, AKB-6548 is designed to improve hemoglobin levels, reduce the need for IV or oral iron supplementation and offer a differentiated safety profile with the convenience of once-daily, oral therapy.

About Akebia Therapeutics

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel proprietary therapeutics based on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) biology and the commercialization of these products for patients with kidney disease. Akebia’s lead product candidate, AKB-6548, is in a Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with anemia secondary to chronic kidney disease who are not dependent on dialysis. AKB-6548 is being developed as a once-daily, oral therapy to inhibit hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase, which is expected to stabilize and increase levels of HIFα and improve the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include those about Akebia’s strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the development plan for AKB-6548, the design of Akebia’s clinical trials, the potential indications and benefits of AKB-6548, and the expected timing for the announcement of clinical trial data. The words “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement, including the risk that existing preclinical and clinical data may not be predictive of the results of ongoing or later clinical trials; the actual time it takes to complete clinical trials and analyze the data; the ability of Akebia to successfully complete the clinical development of AKB-6548 or any other product candidate; the funding required to develop Akebia’s product candidates; the content and timing of decisions by the FDA and other regulatory authorities; the success of competitors in developing product candidates for diseases for which Akebia is currently developing its product candidates; and Akebia’s ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for AKB-6548 or any other product candidates. Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Akebia’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 19, 2014, and other filings that Akebia may make with the SEC in the future. Akebia does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

(LFVN) Acquires New Product Line From Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition

Company Will Rebrand and Re-Launch Products Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015

SALT LAKE CITY, April 15, 2014  — LifeVantage Corporation (Nasdaq:LFVN), a company dedicated to helping people achieve healthy living through a combination of a compelling business opportunity and scientifically validated products, today announced that it has acquired a line of sports nutrition products known as Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition. The products were designed and tested by LifeVantage’s Chief Science Officer, Shawn Talbott, prior to joining LifeVantage. Dr. Talbott, an avid triathlete with 17 Ironman competitions under his belt, developed the Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition products to help both the serious and casual athlete feel better and perform better, regardless of their exercise and life goals. LifeVantage will conduct additional research and testing on the supplements and plans to rebrand the products in preparation for their official launch through its distribution network beginning in fiscal year 2015.

The Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition products include:

• A pre-exercise supplement formulated to boost mental and physical energy levels, improve stamina, and enhance endurance;
• A post-exercise supplement designed to enhance the body’s ability to recover from intense exercise;
• A powdered drink mix formulated to provide both fast and lasting mental and physical energy; and
• A supplement intended to balance blood sugar levels for appetite control and fat loss.

Douglas C. Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer of LifeVantage, stated, “Our acquisition of Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition is in-line with our key initiative to expand our product offerings with scientifically backed, efficacious products that help individuals feel better, look better, and perform better. This also underscores our ability to grow our business through acquisition as well as through internal product development.”

Dr. Talbott commented, “We are excited to integrate the Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition supplements into the LifeVantage product portfolio. These products are extremely effective in helping athletes of all levels recover after rigorous physical activity. This acquisition marks our entry into the large market of sports nutrition and supports our goal of providing safe and high quality products to individuals around the world striving to improve their health and fitness levels.”

About LifeVantage Corporation

LifeVantage Corporation (Nasdaq:LFVN), a leader in Nrf2 science and the maker of Protandim®, the Nrf2 Synergizer® patented dietary supplement, TrueScience® Anti-Aging Cream and LifeVantage® Canine Health, is a science-based network marketing company. LifeVantage is dedicated to visionary science that looks to transform wellness and anti-aging internally and externally with products that dramatically reduce oxidative stress at the cellular level. LifeVantage was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as “believe,” “hopes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “look forward to” and variations thereof, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding the timing and success of any future launch of the Wicked Fast product line. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those contained in such statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting the Company and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, those discussed in greater detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this document. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document, except as required by law.

CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact:
         Cindy England (801) 432-9036
         Director of Investor Relations
         -or-
         John Mills (310) 954-1105
         Partner, ICR, LLC

(BNFT) AmeriGas Selects Benefitfocus for Benefits Enrollment, Communication and Analysis

Multi-year agreement will bring new consumer experience to 9,000 AmeriGas employees in all 50 states

CHARLESTON, S.C., April 15, 2014  — Benefitfocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNFT), a leading provider of cloud-based benefits software solutions, today announced that AmeriGas Propane, Inc. (NYSE: APU) has selected Benefitfocus HR INTOUCH MARKETPLACE® to support benefits administration, enrollment and employee communication. AmeriGas is the largest U.S. retail propane marketer and has almost 9,000 employees at more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states.

(WAVX), Micron Technology Collaborate to Secure Connected Devices

BOISE, Idaho and LEE, Mass., April 15, 2014  — Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:MU), a global leader in advanced semiconductor systems, and Wave Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:WAVX), a leading provider of endpoint security, today announced they are expanding their relationship to develop solutions designed to strengthen user protection against current and emerging threats to compute and embedded platforms.

Given the pervasive connectivity associated with cloud computing and data/asset management models, it is becoming even more critical to architect comprehensive security solutions that leverage close integration of software and hardware components. This collaboration is focused on the detection and remediation of advanced persistent threats (APTs), the most advanced forms of malware capable of infecting a wide array of IP-connected devices.

Security breaches from laptops, cell phones and other portable devices involved almost 1.5 million records in 2013. Of the total number of breaches, 37% involved an unknown number of records, so the actual number could easily be 2 million or more. (Source, Greenview Data, 2013).

“The many benefits of increased connectivity with IP-connected devices create a new class of threats. We’re pleased to collaborate with Wave because they have pioneered innovative approaches in the early detection of APTs,” said Andreas Schlapka, director of Micron’s client segment.

“We’re pleased to be working with Micron in developing advanced solutions that combine hardware and software security protection,” said Wave CEO Bill Solms. “Our expanded agreement will allow us to build on our existing software solutions and take security of client applications to the next level.”

The collaboration expands on the two companies’ ongoing activities around management for Micron’s self-encrypting SSD drives. Together, Micron and Wave deliver advanced data protection for large corporations, as well as state and federal governments—without cumbersome workflow interruptions or decreased performance.

The companies are targeting the second half of 2014 for future announcements regarding products in development.

About Micron

Micron Technology, Inc., is a global leader in advanced semiconductor systems. Micron’s broad portfolio of high-performance memory technologies—including DRAM, NAND and NOR Flash—is the basis for solid state drives, modules, multichip packages and other system solutions. Backed by more than 35 years of technology leadership, Micron’s memory solutions enable the world’s most innovative computing, consumer, enterprise storage, networking, mobile, embedded and automotive applications. Micron’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.

The Micron Technology, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6950

About Wave Systems Corp.

Wave Systems Corp. (Nasdaq:WAVX) reduces the complexity, cost and uncertainty of data protection by starting inside the device. Unlike other vendors who try to secure information by adding layers of software for security, Wave leverages the hardware security capabilities built directly into endpoint computing platforms themselves. Wave has been among the foremost experts on this growing trend, leading the way with first-to-market solutions and helping shape standards through its work as a board member for the Trusted Computing Group.

CONTACT: Micron Media Contact:
         Karl Stetson
         Zeno Group
         206.297.5943
         Karl.stetson@zenogroup.com

(PTLA) Publication of Phase 3 APEX Study Design and Rationale in AHJ

Global, Pivotal Phase 3 APEX Study of Betrixaban Enrolling Acute Medically Ill Patients Using Biomarker-Based Strategy to Identify Those Most Likely to Benefit From Therapy

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 14, 2014  — Portola Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:PTLA) today announced publication of the design and rationale of the Phase 3 APEX (Acute Medically Ill VTE Prevention with Extended Duration Betrixaban) Study in the March 2014 issue of the American Heart Journal.ⁱ Betrixaban, the Company’s wholly-owned, oral, once-daily Factor Xa anticoagulant, is being evaluated in the only ongoing global, pivotal study of in-hospital and post-discharge prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE), or blood clots, in patients who have been hospitalized for medical conditions, such as heart failure, stroke, infection and pulmonary disease.

“Extended VTE prevention in acute medically ill patients is an important unmet medical need because studies have shown that well-identified patients are at high risk for life-threatening blood clots beginning at hospital admission and for several weeks after discharge. However, no anticoagulant therapy has been approved to protect patients during this period of risk. APEX is the only ongoing pivotal study evaluating one continuous therapy for hospital-to-home VTE prevention for these patients,” said Alexander T. Cohen, M.D., co-chairman of the APEX Executive Committee and honorary consultant vascular physician, Department of Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals at King’s College London, UK. “Additionally, these patients are often renally compromised, and because betrixaban has a lower level of renal clearance compared with other drugs in its class, APEX is the first pivotal study to allow inclusion of patients with severe renal impairment.”

The prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, multinational APEX Study is evaluating the superiority of extended-duration anticoagulation with oral betrixaban (for up to 35 days in hospital and post-discharge) compared with standard of care anticoagulation with injectable enoxaparin (for 10 days) for VTE prevention in acute medically ill patients. The study will enroll close to 7,000 patients at more than 425 study sites worldwide. The primary efficacy endpoint is the composite of asymptomatic proximal deep venous thrombosis, symptomatic deep venous thrombosis, non-fatal pulmonary embolism or VTE-related death through day 35. The primary safety outcome is the occurrence of major bleeding.

“The APEX study is using biomarkers to identify and enroll patients at highest risk of blood clots who will most likely benefit from treatment with betrixaban, including those with elevated blood levels of D-dimer (a protein fragment present after a blood clot has developed) and those over age 75,” said John T. Curnutte, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president, research and development at Portola. “We believe that betrixaban, because of its unique pharmacokinetic properties, has the potential to be the first novel oral anticoagulant to prevent VTE in this patient population without the significant increase in the rate of major bleeding seen with other Factor Xa inhibitors. Betrixaban could be the first anticoagulant approved for ‘hospital to home’ use and the standard of care in this large market of more than 30 million patients worldwide.”

About VTE Prevention in Acute Medically Ill Patients

Acute medically ill patients, who are at high risk for developing blood clots, are hospitalized due to a serious medical condition such as heart failure, stroke, infection, pulmonary disease or rheumatic disease. They are often elderly, frail, renally compromised and taking multiple concomitant medications. Acute medically ill patients represent the single largest category of patients at risk for thrombosis, with an estimated 30 million patients worldwide. Enoxaparin, the current standard of care, is limited to hospital use because it is administered by injection and is associated with an increase in major bleeding when administered in this population for extended use. The other novel oral Factor Xa inhibitors that have been studied in this population have also been associated with an increased rate of major bleeding. A well-identified population of medical patients is at risk for life-threatening blood clots during hospitalization and for several weeks after discharge, but currently no anticoagulant is approved to treat these patients for this extended time period.

About Betrixaban

Betrixaban is a small molecule anticoagulant that directly inhibits the activity of Factor Xa, an important validated target in the blood coagulation pathway, to prevent thrombosis. The compound has three properties that differentiate it from other oral anticoagulants: it has the longest half-life of all of the Factor Xa inhibitors for true once-daily dosing; it has a low level of clearance through the kidneys and has been studied in patients with severe renal impairment (excluding dialysis patients); and it is not metabolized by CYP3A4, a liver enzyme that metabolizes many drugs and can lead to drug-drug interactions. These properties are important for acute medically ill patients and may allow betrixaban to demonstrate efficacy in this population without the increase in major bleeding seen with other Factor Xa inhibitors.

Portola has full worldwide development and commercial rights to betrixaban.

About Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Portola Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company developing product candidates that have the potential to represent significant advances in the fields of hematology and inflammation. The Company is advancing its three wholly-owned hematology programs using novel biomarker and genetic approaches that may increase the likelihood of clinical, regulatory and commercial success of its first-in-class therapies. Portola’s partnered program is focused on developing selective Syk inhibitors for inflammatory conditions.

Betrixaban

Portola’s wholly-owned, oral, once-daily Factor Xa inhibitor betrixaban is being evaluated in a biomarker-based Phase 3 study for “hospital to home” prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in acute medically ill patients. Betrixaban’s properties may be particularly suited to potentially demonstrate efficacy without significantly increasing bleeding in this patient population. Currently, there is no anticoagulant approved for extended-duration VTE prophylaxis in acute medically ill patients.

Andexanet Alfa

Portola’s second product candidate in the area of thrombosis, andexanet alfa, has the potential to be a first-in-class reversal agent to reverse the effects of Factor Xa inhibitors in patients who suffer a major bleeding episode or who require emergency surgery. Portola has entered into clinical collaboration agreements with all of the manufacturers of direct Factor Xa inhibitors, including Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer (Eliquis^® [apixaban]), Bayer HealthCare and Janssen Pharmaceuticals (XARELTO^® [rivaroxaban]), and Daiichi Sankyo (edoxaban), while retaining all commercial rights to andexanet alfa. Andexanet alfa has been designated as a Breakthrough Therapy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Cerdulatinib* (PRT2070)

Portola’s product candidate in the area of hematologic cancer, cerdulatinib, is an orally available molecule that uniquely inhibits two validated tumor proliferation pathways — spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and janus kinase (JAK). It is currently being studied in patients with leukemias or lymphomas with a focus on genetically-defined subtypes, as well as in patients who have failed therapy due to relapse or acquired mutations.

For more information, visit www.portola.com and follow the Company on Twitter @Portola_Pharma.

Forward-looking statement

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: anticipated growth in the market for anticoagulants, clinical trial enrollment, cost, design and timing, and the potential efficacy, safety and activity of betrixaban, andexanet alfa and cerdulatinib. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of Portola’s estimates regarding its ability to initiate and/or complete its clinical trials; the success of Portola’s clinical trials and the demonstrated efficacy of Portola’s product candidates thereunder; the accuracy of Portola’s estimates regarding its expenses and capital requirements; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; Portola’s ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; and the loss of key scientific or management personnel. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Portola’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2014. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Portola undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

*Cerdulatinib is a proposed International Nonproprietary Name (pINN).

ⁱCohen AT, Harrington R, Goldhaber SZ, Hull R, Gibson CM, et al. The design and rationale for the Acute Medically Ill Venous Thromboembolism Prevention with Extended Duration Betrixaban (APEX) study. Am Heart J. 2014;167:335-41.

CONTACT: Investor Contact:
         Alexandra Santos
         Portola Pharmaceuticals
         ir@portola.com
         650.246.7239

         Media Contact:
         Joey Fleury
         BrewLife
         jfleury@brewlife.com
         415.946.1090