DURECT Corporation and Cardinal Health Announce Collaboration to Research And Develop Long Acting Gel-Cap Products Using the SABER(TM) Delivery System

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CUPERTINO, Calif., Mar 27, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — DURECT
Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX) announced today a collaboration with Cardinal Health
(NYSE: CAH) Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services Center, Inc. to explore the
feasibility of producing long acting soft gelatin based oral products, using the
SABER(TM) technology as core formulations. The technology has the potential of
greatly expanding the utility of the soft gelatin capsule dosage form in
improving patient therapy through reduced dosing frequency and side effects.

R.P. Scherer Corporation, a subsidiary of Cardinal Health, is a leading
developer and manufacturer of soft-gelatin capsules, rapid-dissolving tablets
and other drug delivery systems. R.P. Scherer has been involved in the design of
unique drug-delivery systems and related manufacturing technologies for nearly a
dozen of the top 100 pharmaceuticals. R.P. Scherer’s soft-gel technology is used
in products such as Advil(R), Liqui-Gels(TM) and other products.

The SABER system is a patented controlled release technology developed by
Southern BioSystems, a wholly owned subsidiary of DURECT Corporation. This
technology is based on sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB), a high viscosity
biodegradable liquid matrix, which is the basis for DURECT’s injectable depot,
and oral gel cap technology.

“Since pioneering the commercialization of soft-gel technology in the 1930s, the
name R.P. Scherer has almost become synonymous with soft-gels,” stated Felix
Theeuwes, Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of DURECT. “We see this
collaboration and combination of SABER and gel cap technologies as a significant
potential commercialization opportunity.”

“The advantages of the soft gelatin capsule dosage form in reliably and
predictably delivering drugs to improve therapy now has the potential to provide
even better and safer drug therapy through the controlled release of the drug
through the SABER system,” stated George Fotiades, President and Chief Operating
Officer, Pharmaceutical Technology and Services, Cardinal Health.

About DURECT:

DURECT Corporation (www.www.durect.com) is pioneering the development and
commercialization of pharmaceutical systems for the treatment of chronic
debilitating diseases and enabling biotechnology-based pharmaceutical products.
DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems combine technology innovations from the medical
device and drug delivery industries with proprietary pharmaceutical and
biotechnology drug formulations. These capabilities can enable new drug
therapies or optimize existing therapies based on a broad range of compounds,
including small molecule pharmaceuticals as well as biotechnology molecules such
as proteins, peptides and genes. DURECT focuses on the treatment of chronic
diseases including pain, CNS disorders, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

R.P. Scherer of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is wholly owned by Cardinal Health
and has a global network of 15 manufacturing facilities and 3,600 employees in
11 countries. Its presence on five continents uniquely positions the company to
serve its more than 2,000 clients.

About Cardinal Health:

Cardinal Health, Inc. (www.cardinal.com) is a leading provider of products and
services supporting the healthcare industry. Cardinal companies develop,
manufacture, package and market products for patient care; develop drug-delivery
technologies; distribute pharmaceuticals, medical-surgical and laboratory
supplies; and offer consulting and other services that improve quality and
efficiency in health care. The company, which is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio,
employs more than 49,000 people on five continents and produces annual revenues
of more than $45 billion.

The statements in this press release regarding DURECT’s products in development,
expected product benefits, product development plans or potential product
markets are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such
forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, DURECT’s ability to research, develop, manufacture and
commercialize its products, obtain product and manufacturing approvals from
regulatory agencies, manage its growth and expenses, finance its activities and
operations, as well as marketplace acceptance of DURECT’s products. Further
information regarding these and other risks is included in DURECT’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 11, 2002, Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 filed with the SEC on
November 13, 2001, and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2000 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2001, under the heading
“Factors that may affect future results.”

SOURCE DURECT Corporation

CONTACT:
Schond L. Greenway, Senior Director, Investor Relations and
Strategic Planning of DURECT Corporation,
+1-408-777-1417, or
schond.greenway@durect.com;
or David R. Savello, Ph.D., Senior Vice President
and Chief Scientific Officer of Cardinal Health Corporation,
+1-732-537 6503

URL: http://www.cardinal.com
http://www.www.durect.com
http://www.prnewswire.com

Copyright (C) 2002 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

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