MENLO PARK, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/08/09 -- Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CORT) today announced results from two preclinical studies conducted as part of its collaboration with Eli Lilly. The data demonstrate that CORT 108297 has the potential to both reduce weight gain caused by olanzapine and to prevent weight gain caused by initiation of treatment with olanzapine. Olanzapine is the active ingredient in Lilly's Zyprexa®, which is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The two studies were conducted in a rat model of olanzapine induced weight gain. The data confirmed results previously reported from similar studies of CORLUX, Corcept's late-stage GRII receptor antagonist, which the company is evaluating in two ongoing Phase 3 trials for psychotic depression and Cushing's Syndrome.

"We are encouraged by these preclinical results which confirm results we have seen previously in both rat and human studies with CORLUX, another compound in this class," said Dr. Robert L. Roe, M.D., President of Corcept. "The use of GRII antagonists to prevent weight gain commonly associated with the use of many antipsychotic drugs could be of great benefit to the millions of people currently taking these medications. We believe that the effect of CORLUX on Zyprexa associated weight gain will extend to other antipsychotic medications and are currently conducting a prevention of Risperdal® induced weight gain study in healthy men to test this hypothesis."

CORT 108297 Demonstrated Statistically Significant Weight Control

--  Study Design: Six groups (n = 12 per group) of rats were allowed to
    eat a normal diet for 56 days. Five groups were dosed orally with
    olanzapine daily. The sixth group received placebo.  At day 35, the five
    groups receiving olanzapine had gained a statistically significant amount
    of weight compared to the group receiving placebo. The five olanzapine
    groups then began to receive daily oral doses either of CORT 108297 (at one
    of three dose levels), CORLUX, or placebo through day 56.
--  Results: The rats administered olanzapine alone continued to gain
    weight through day 56.  In contrast, the rats given olanzapine along with
    CORT 108297 and those administered olanzapine with CORLUX did not. By day
    56, there was a highly statistically significant difference between these
    groups and the group administered olanzapine alone.  In addition,
    olanzapine induced weight gain amelioration by CORT 108297 was dose
    dependent.