LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- SIBIA Neurosciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SIBI) today announced the recent issuance  by the United States
Patent and Trademark Office of four patents.  The first, U.S. Patent No.
5,804,560, relates to using certain of the Company's proprietary compounds for
the treatment of central nervous system disorders involving cerebral amyloid
deposits, and includes possible future therapies for Alzheimer's disease.  The
other three, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,792,846, 5,801,232 and 5,807,689, relate to
assay methods for screening compounds to identify drug candidates with
potential for treating pain, dementia, anxiety, schizophrenia, depression and
stroke.  The assay methods involve proprietary classes of human ion channels
(voltage-gated calcium channels, nicotinic cholinergic channels, and
metabotropic glutamate receptors) expressed in neuronal cells by the Company's
scientists.
    Dr. Jeffrey F. McKelvy, Chief Scientific Officer at SIBIA Neurosciences
stated, "We are delighted to see the pioneering achievements of our scientists
recognized in this important way.  Our continuing discoveries provide the
Company and its investors with tangible assets that establish the Company's
proprietary position in human neuronal targets that are emerging as promising
sites for drug discovery, and they facilitate understanding of the causes of
neurodegenerative disorders."
    The addition of these four patents brings the Company's total number of
patents issued in the past four years to 26 U.S. and 11 foreign, with
12 additional U.S. and 5 foreign patents in the process of being issued.
    SIBIA Neurosciences, Inc. is engaged in the discovery and development of
novel small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative,
neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders, many of which have large patient
populations and represent critical unmet medical needs.  SIBIA is a leader in
the development of proprietary drug discovery platforms that combine key tools
necessary for modern drug discovery, including genomics, high throughput
screening, advanced combinatorial chemistry techniques and pharmacology.  The
Company's proprietary molecular targets and drug candidates, together with its
drug discovery technologies and research expertise, have enabled the Company
to establish several corporate collaborations, which currently include
Novartis AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd., and
multiple technology licensing arrangements.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks
and uncertainties.  As a result, actual results could differ materially from
those discussed herein.  These risks and uncertainties include whether SIBIA
will be able to meet its development goals with respect to its drug candidates
and proprietary targets, SIBIA's early stage of development, the new and
uncertain state of SIBIA's technologies, uncertainties regarding patents and
proprietary rights and other research, development and market risks.  These
and other risks and uncertainties are more fully set forth in SIBIA's most
recently filed Forms 10-Q and 10-K.

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