DURECT to Participate in Cowen and Company Healthcare Conference

CUPERTINO, Calif., March 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — DURECT Corporation
(Nasdaq: DRRX) announced today that Matthew Hogan, Chief Financial Officer,
will be presenting at the Cowen and Company 29th Annual Healthcare Conference
on March 17, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The conference is being held at the
Marriott Hotel in Boston.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020717/DRRXLOGO)

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available by accessing
DURECT’s homepage at www.www.durect.com and clicking “Investor Relations.” If you
are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived
on DURECT’s website under Audio Archive in the “Investor Relations” section.

About DURECT Corporation

DURECT is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company developing
innovative drugs for pain and other chronic diseases, with late-stage
development programs including REMOXY(TM), POSIDUR(TM), ELADUR(TM), and
TRANSDUR(TM)-Sufentanil. DURECT’s proprietary oral, transdermal and
injectable depot delivery technologies enable new indications and superior
clinical/commercial attributes such as abuse deterrence, improved convenience,
compliance, efficacy and safety for small molecule and biologic drugs. For
more information, please visit www.www.durect.com.

NOTE: POSIDUR(TM), SABER(TM), ORADUR(R), TRANSDUR(TM), and ELADUR(TM) are
trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Other referenced trademarks belong to their
respective owners. REMOXY, POSIDUR, ELADUR and TRANSDUR-Sufentanil are drug
candidates under development and have not been approved for commercialization
by the US Food and Drug Administration or other health authorities.

SOURCE DURECT Corporation

03/09/2009
CONTACT: Matthew J. Hogan, Chief Financial Officer of DURECT
Corporation, +1-408-777-4936
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020717/DRRXLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Web Site: http://www.www.durect.com