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Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Alexza, AZ-007 (Staccato(R) Zaleplon) Phase 1 Clinical Trial and Updates Clinical Pipeline Development Status

Feb. 5 , 2008 - Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXA) announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial with AZ-007 (Staccato(R) zaleplon). AZ-007 is an inhalation product candidate being developed for the treatment of insomnia patients who have difficulty falling asleep, including patients who awake in the middle of the night and have difficulty falling back asleep. This is the first clinical trial of AZ-007 being conducted under an IND filed recently with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Alexza believes the novel, non-invasive nature and possible rapid pharmacokinetic properties resulting from inhaled zaleplon administration via the Staccato system make AZ-007 a viable product candidate for clinical development in insomnia. Alexza also announced today a status update on its clinical pipeline, including confirming the initiation of its first AZ-004 Phase 3 clinical trial by the end of Q1 2008... Alexza's Press Release -

Covidien, Sandman Intro CPAP Device

Feb 11, 2008 - Covidien Ltd. (NYSE: COV, BSX: COV), a leading supplier of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and other sleep therapy devices and accessories, announced the introduction of an all-new CPAP device with a fully-integrated heated humidifier. The product is available throughout the United States and Europe and will be phased into other global markets over the next year.

The Sandman Intro(TM) CPAP device is a convenient device designed for a broad range of patients and provides continuous positive airway pressure and heated humidification. According to Andy Ray, Vice President and General Manager for Covidien's Sleep and Oxygen Division, "The goal in developing this product was to improve the nighttime breathing comfort of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) - which we know to be an increasingly common and serious condition - and to accomplish this with a device that is as easy to use as it is unobtrusive."... Covidien's Press Release-