PHARMAFORM ANNOUNCES CORPORATE UPDATE AND EXPANSION PLANS

AUSTIN, TX, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - PharmaForm, a leader in pharmaceutical formulation and clinical manufacturing, today announced several corporate updates including the hire of several key scientists and investment in capital equipment that will allow the company to significantly expand in 2011. 

PharmaForm announced today the appointment of J. Blair West, Ph.D., as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations. Dr. West brings over 20 years of experience as a senior executive and formulation scientist with expertise in several emerging formulation technology platforms including hot melt extrusion and spray drying. Dr. West previously was employed at Bend Research and Azo Pharma and earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry from Harvard University. Feng Zhang, Ph.D. will be transitioning to Senior Formulation Consultant.

In addition, to hiring Dr. West, PharmaForm has recently expanded its Pharmaceutical Operations team, which includes both R&D and cGMP manufacturing functions, and Business Development teams with eight new hires. 

PharmaForm also announced today the expansion of PharmaForm's Hot Melt Extrusion (HME) manufacturing capabilities as the Company will be acquiring two new Leistritz Extruders. PharmaForm has ordered a ZSE -18 Twin Screw Extruder as well as a ZSE - 27 Twin Screw Extruder for pilot scale and GMP commercial manufacturing to complement our existing platform of the Leistritz Nano16 and Leistritz ZSE 18 extruders. 

"We are extremely pleased to add Blair to our scientific team," stated Gregory M. McKee, President and Chief Executive Officer of PharmaForm. "We believe that Blair, along with our other hires and capital expansion plans will allow PharmaForm to grow significantly in 2011." Mr. McKee continued.  "We would also like to thank Dr. Feng Zhang for his years of dedicated service to the Company and wish him great success in his future endeavors." 

PharmaForm celebrates its 15^th Anniversary as a leader in the pharmaceutical formulation industry in May of 2011.

PharmaForm with its platform of an Anhydro Spray Dryer, Glatt Fluid Bed Processors and Gerteis Mini-Pactor has incrementally grown its spray drying formulation and manufacturing business over the past several years.

PharmaForm remains an industry leader in the formulation of potent compounds and controlled release drug delivery. Working with solid oral dosage (tablets, capsules and film coating) as well as HME novel dosage forms (oral dissolving thin films, transmucosal and oral tablets & Capsules) and creams, emulsions, gels, nasal spray and dry powder inhalation.

About PharmaForm

PharmaForm, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Akela Pharma, Inc, is a leading specialty contract manufacturer in the area of pharmaceutical dosage form development, specializing in controlled release and bioavailability enhancement technologies, such as hot melt extrusion, liquid filled capsules, and spray drying. Through its diverse offerings, PharmaForm solutions help pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients reach their drug development targets, reduce development costs and accelerate time-to-market for their products.

About Akela Pharma Inc.

Akela Pharma is a drug development company with its lead product, Fentanyl TAIFUN®, being developed for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain. Fentanyl TAIFUN® is a fast-acting fentanyl formulation delivered using the company's TAIFUN® multi-dose dry powder inhaler platform.

Akela's common shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") under the symbol "AKL" with 32.1 million shares outstanding.

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Forward-looking statements or information in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements or information concerning our ongoing drug development programs and collaborations as well as the possible receipt of future payments upon achievement of milestones.

Such forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, events or developments to be materially different from results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors include, among others, the possibility that risks associated with requirements for approvals by government agencies such as the FDA before products can be tested in clinical trials; the possibility that such government agency approvals will not be obtained in a timely manner or at all or will be conditioned in a manner that would impair our ability to advance development; risks associated with the requirement that a drug candidate be found safe and effective after extensive clinical trials; our dependence on suppliers, collaborative partners and other third parties and the prospects and timing for negotiating supply agreements, corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; and other factors as described in detail in our filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at http:www.sedar.com.

Assumptions underlying our expectations regarding forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release include, among others, that future clinical trial results will be favorable; that our drug candidate will treat target diseases as intended; that we will raise enough capital, on reasonable terms and in a timely manner; that we will retain our key personnel; that we will obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.

In the event that any of these assumptions prove to be incorrect, or in the event that we are impacted by any of the risks identified above, we may not be able to continue in our business as planned.

For a complete discussion of the assumptions, risks and uncertainties related to our business, you are encouraged to review our filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities, filed on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

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SOURCE AKELA PHARMA INC.