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Durect Corp.

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Employees 51-200
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FY2000 Annual Report · Durect Corp.
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Around The Clock Therapy   Through Continuous Dosing

D U R E C T   A N N U A L R E P O R T   2 0 0 0

DURECT Corporation 

10240 Bubb Road 

Cupertino, CA 95014-4166 

408.777.1417 phone 

408.777.3577 fax

www.durect.com

2000 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2001.
on September 22, 2000 and its 424(b) prospectus filed with the SEC on September 28, 2000 and its Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31,
acceptance of DURECT's products. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the company's S-1 registration statement, filed with the SEC
successful clinical trials, obtain product approvals from regulatory agencies, build a manufacturing facility, manage its growth and costs, as well as marketplace
statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, DURECT's ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize its products, complete
benefits are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking
The statements in this Annual Report regarding DURECT's products in development, product development plans, clinical trials, and expected product 

© 2001 DURECT Corporation

ALZACorporation.
DUROS®is a registered trademark of
are trademarks of DURECT Corporation.
Round Window e-Cath®and ALZET®
IntraEAR®,Round Window (mu)-Cath®,
Trademarks

Cupertino, CA95104

10240 Bubb Road

Attn: Investor Relations

DURECT Corporation

at Company headquarters.

9:00 A.M. local time June 27, 2001 

of stockholders will be held at 

The Company’s annual meeting 

Annual Meeting

www.durect.com

Corporate Website: 

Cupertino, CA95104

10240 Bubb Road 

DURECT Corporation 

Mailing Address: 

without charge upon written request to:

Commission on Form 10-K is available

Email: Schond.Greenway@durect.com

the United States Securities and Exchange

Acopy of the Company’s Annual Report to

SEC Form 10-K

Fax: 408.777.3577 

Tel: 408.777.1417 

Director, Investor Relations 

Schond L. Greenway 

Phone 781.575.3400

For more information please contact:

Vice President of Manufacturing

Scott M. Wheelwright, Ph.D. 

and Business Development 

Vice President of Commercial 

Timothy S. Nelson 

and Development 

Vice President of Regulatory 

Judy A. Magruder 

and General Counsel

Vice President, Legal 

Jean I. Liu, J.D. 

System Programs

and Director of Central Nervous 

Vice President of Preclinical Research 

Randolph M. Johnson, Ph.D.

Vice President of Engineering 

Edward M. Gillis 

and Medical Director

Vice President of Medical Affairs

Dennis M. Fisher, M.D. 

Senior Management

Chief Financial Officer

Thomas A. Schreck 

Canton, MA02021 USA

150 Royal Street 

EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.

Transfer Agent

Menlo Park, CA

Venture Law Group

Legal Counsel

Palo Alto, CA

Ernst & Young LLP

Auditors

Additional Information

Albert L. Zesiger

Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc.

Thomas A. Schreck

Armand Neukermans, Ph.D.

Matthew V. McPherron

President and Chief Executive Officer

Douglas A. Lee

John L. Doyle

James E. Brown, D.V.M. 

James R. Butler

Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer 

James E. Brown, D.V.M.

Board of Directors 

Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. 

Executive Officers

CORPORATEDIRECTORY

Around The Clock Therapy   Through Continuous Dosing

DURECT Corporation is pioneering the development and
commercialization of pharmaceutical systems to deliver the
right drug to the right site in the right amount at the right time.

DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems combine technology innovations

from the medical device and drug delivery industries with proprietary

pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug formulations. These capabilities

can enable new drug therapies or optimize existing therapies based on a

broad range of compounds, including small molecule pharmaceuticals as

well as biotechnology molecules such as proteins, peptides and genes.

CORPORATE MILESTONES

Initial Public Offering

Completed September 2000

Construction of commercial 

manufacturing facility 

Commenced October 2000

Phase II clinical trial for 

DUROS sufentanil 

Initiated December 2000

Prototype design for 

DUROS hydromorphone

Completed December 2000

Patient Enrollment for 

Phase II clinical trial for

DUROS sufentanil

Completed March 2001

Initiation of Phase III clinical 

trial for DUROS sufentanil 

Expected during 2001

Manufacture of ICH and Phase III 

product for DUROS sufentanil 

DURECT’s lead product in development, DUROS® sufentanil, is designed

Expected during 2001

to deliver sufentanil on a continuous basis for 3 months for the treatment

of chronic pain. DURECT’s second product in development, DUROS

hydromorphone, continuously delivers hydromorphone to the spine.

Initiation of Phase I clinical trial

for DUROS hydromorphone 

DURECT is also selling FDA-cleared catheters for the delivery of fluids to

Expected during 2001

the inner ear. Finally, DURECT manufactures, sells and distributes the
ALZET® osmotic pump product for use in laboratory research.

T O O U R S T O C K H O L D E R S

2000 was an outstanding year for
DURECT as we made substantial
progress in many fundamental areas
that have built value for our stockholders
and have built the foundation for a
strong future as a pharmaceutical 
systems company. Most of the credit
for this goes to our employees whose
hard work and dedication has been
responsible for our success. We have met our major
milestones for 2000. We have completed two financings,
including our initial public offering, which allowed the
company to raise a total of $117 million.

P R O D U C T   D E V E L O P M E N T S  
In December 2000, we began our Phase II clinical
trials for our lead product, DUROS sufentanil, for 
the treatment of chronic pain. In March 2001, we
announced the completion of patient enrollment for
our Phase II clinical trial of DUROS sufentanil. More
than 50 patients at 10 clinical centers were enrolled in
the trial over three months ahead of schedule, which
we believe shows the potential benefits of this product
for both patients and physicians.

Our second product in development, DUROS 
hydromorphone, continuously delivers hydromorphone
to the spine. We have completed the prototype clinical
system design and finalized our pharmaceutical
formulation for the product.

M A N U F A C T U R I N G   C A P A B I L I T I E S  
In October 2000, we commenced construction of our
commercial manufacturing facility, which is expected
to meet our production needs for our Phase III clinical
trial and commercial launch for DUROS sufentanil.
This facility is designed to use advanced procedures
to enhance the DUROS manufacturing process, which
should increase production capacity, and to allow
pilot manufacturing for a number of additional 

products. The new facility comprises
approximately 8,000 sq. ft. and is located
at our headquarters in Cupertino,
California. The facility will house a
state of the art aseptic clean room space
and an advanced manufacturing process
capable of supporting clean assembly
and automated aseptic filling. 

R E S E A R C H   A C T I V I T I E S  
We continue to make progress with regard to our
research in a number of therapeutic areas. We have
focused research and development efforts on the
application of pharmaceutical systems technologies 
to potential products for cardiovascular diseases, 
vascular grafts, cancer immunotherapy and other 
central nervous system disorders. We look forward
to moving some of these products into development. 

We are proud to have been able to assemble a staff
with world-class expertise in pharmaceutical system
technology and product development capability and
experience. As a result, we have been able to make
substantial progress in product development while
simultaneously building laboratories, processes and
manufacturing facilities. We expect this combination
will produce results in 2001 and beyond as we pursue
opportunities for innovation and partnership to build
value for our stockholders and improve the quality of
life for patients with chronic diseases and conditions
throughout the world.

Sincerely,

James E. Brown, D.V. M.

President and Chief Executive Officer

1

D U R O S   C U T A W A Y   D I A G R A M

S E M I - P E R M E A B L E  
M E M B R A N E

E N G I N E
C O M PA RT M E N T

D R U G   R E S E RV O I R

O R I F I C E

O S M O T I C  
A G E N T

P I S T O N

P R O P R I E TA RY   D R U G  
F O R M U L AT I O N

D U R O S   A C T U A L   S I Z E

A P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S Y S T E M

DURECT’s initial portfolio of products

combines the DUROS technology, a

proven and patented drug delivery

platform licensed for specified fields 

of use from ALZA Corporation, with

drugs for which medical data on efficacy

and safety are available. The DUROS

technology platform is an implantable

drug-dispensing osmotic pump. The

system is a small titanium rod, which

can be as small as a matchstick, designed

to release drugs. Conceptually, the

DUROS resembles a miniature syringe

in which drug is pushed out in con-

trolled, minute dosages. Water from

the body is drawn through the semi-

permeable membrane into the pump

by salt (osmotic agent) residing in the

engine compartment. The water fills

this compartment and pushes a piston

to dispense small amounts of drug

P E R F O R M A N C E

C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
O F T H E D U R O S

T E C H N O L O G Y

P L A T F O R M

• The engine can generate

pressure sufficient to
deliver highly concentrated,
viscous and non-water-
based drug formulations.

from the drug reservoir through the

orifice. The osmotic engine does not

require batteries, switches or other

electromechanical parts to operate.

The amount of drug delivered is 

regulated by the semi-permeable 

membrane’s control of body water

entering the engine compartment and

the concentration of the drug formula-

• The system can be 

tion. The DUROS can be programmed

engineered to deliver a
drug formulation at the
desired dosing rate with a
degree of accuracy down
to 1/100 of a drop per day
on a continuous basis.

• The titanium shell of the
system protects the drug
formulation inside from
contact with body fluids,
thus protecting drug from
degradation by enzymes
and clearance processes
within the body.

to deliver up to 1,000 mg of concentrated

drug from months to one year. DURECT

currently holds five issued patents and

25 applications pending for therapeutic

indications. In addition, pursuant to

DURECT’s license agreement with

ALZA, DURECT has a license under a

portfolio of pending, issued and future

patents of ALZA, which may cover

DURECT’s products depending on the

attributes of those products.

2

1 0 0 D A Y S O F P A I N T R E A T M E N T

=

1   D U R O S ®

OR

OR

2 0 0   P I L L S

3 3   PAT C H E S

I N F U S I O N   P U M P  
+   A M P U L E

Pharmaceutical systems can provide

continuous, controlled dosing automat-

B E N E F I T S O F

can deliver drugs directly to the

intended site of action, potentially

ically to a patient. Most drugs require 

C O N T I N U O U S D O S A G E

reducing side effects and increasing

a minimum amount in the blood and

V E R S U S

efficiency of total drug administered.

tissues to have a therapeutic effect.

Above a certain level, however, the

drug can be overdosed, causing toxic

or unwanted side effects. It is between

these two levels where the optimal

dosing level lies. The DUROS system

can allow dosing within the optimal

C O N V E N T I O N A L D R U G

A D M I N I S T R A T I O N

• Better control of 

treatment regimens 
with added convenience

• Potential elimination 
of self-administered 
injections

therapeutic range, as opposed to the

• Improved efficacy

peak and troughs associated with

repeated injections or oral dosages.

• Increased patient 

compliance

Additionally, by attaching a proprietary

• Reduction of side effects

microcatheter to the DUROS, DURECT

DUROS is implanted in a simple 

outpatient procedure that takes 

minutes to perform. Subcutaneous

implantation and removal in the 

upper arm is easily performed in 

an outpatient procedure using a 

local anesthetic and special DUROS

implanter. The titanium alloy used 

in the DUROS system reduces bioreac-

tivity and facilitates explantation.

3

T R E A T I N G C H R O N I C D I S E A S E :

M O V I N G P A T I E N T S F R O M

D E P E N D E N C E T O I N D E P E N D E N C E

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 

increased overall life expectancy and improved 

cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurodegenerative 

patient quality of life, many chronic debilitating diseases

diseases, diabetes, arthritis, epilepsy and other chronic

continue to be inadequately treated with current drugs

diseases claimed the lives of more than 1.7 million

or medical devices.

Americans in 1999. The Centers for Disease Control

also estimate that the major chronic diseases are

responsible for approximately 70% of all deaths in 

the U.S., and medical care costs for these conditions

totaled more than $400 billion annually. Currently,

more than 60% of total healthcare spending in the

U.S. is devoted to the treatment of chronic diseases.

Demographic trends suggest that, as the U.S. popula-

tion ages, the incidence of chronic disease and cost of

treating it as a proportion of total health care spending

will increase. While the pharmaceutical, biotechnology,

drug delivery and medical device industries have

Due to our strong technological foundation and 

unique pharmaceutical systems approach to delivering

drug in the right amount to the right place at the right

time, DURECT is well positioned to capitalize on the

advancements currently being made and address the

challenging problems in the healthcare industry.

DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems provide a steady

sustained release of drug that minimizes side effects

by eliminating peaks and troughs associated with

conventional drug dosing using pills, injections or

patches. DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems are suit-

able for providing long-term drug therapy because

4

they store highly concentrated, stabilized drugs in a

the body, which often limit the long-term use of many

small volume and can protect the drug from degrada-

drugs. DURECT’s pharmaceutical systems can thus

tion by the body. This, in

combination with DURECT’s

DUROS vs. CONVENTIONAL DRUG ADMINISTRATION

ability to deliver precise,

accurate and continuous

doses of a drug, allows the

company to extend the 

therapeutic value of a wide

variety of drugs, including

those which would other-

wise be ineffective, too

unstable, too potent or

L
L
E
E
V
V
E
E
L
L
G
G
U
U
R
R
D
D

OVERDOSE
• SIDE EFFECTS
• DRUG WASTE

THERAPEUTIC
DOSE

UNDERDOSE
• LOSS OF EFFECT

TIME

DU ROS                   CO NVENTION AL

provide better therapy for

chronic diseases or condi-

tions by replacing multiple

injection therapy or oral

dosing, improving drug

efficacy, reducing side

effects and ensuring dosing

compliance. DURECT’s

pharmaceutical systems 

can improve patients’ 

quality of life by eliminating

cause adverse side effects. Delivering the drug directly

more repetitive treatments, reducing dependence on

to the intended site of action can also improve efficacy

caregivers and allowing them to lead more 

while minimizing unwanted side effects elsewhere in

independent lives.

5

 
 
Michelle Gaudette, Senior Director of Clinical Operations,
and Judy Magruder, Vice President of Regulatory and
Development, demonstrate the placement of the second
product in development, DUROS hydromorphone.

DURECT Corporation executive management team which includes (from left to right):
Thomas A. Schreck, Chief Financial Officer, Felix Theeuwes, Chairman and Chief
Scientific Officer, and James E. Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer.

A N E W E R A O F T H E R A P E U T I C S :
O P T I M I Z I N G & E N A B L I N G D R U G D E V E L O P M E N T

In order to build an integrated pharmaceutical systems

an inventor of approximately 220 issued US patents.

organization, a company must have the right people to

Products based on these patents sold over $2.5 billon

accomplish its goals. DURECT’s management team has

in 2000.

extensive and broad experience from the pharmaceutical,

biotechnology and medical device industries. Some

key members of DURECT’s executive management

are highlighted below.

Dr. James E. Brown, D.V.M. co-founded DURECT 

and serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and 

a Director. Dr. Brown previously worked at ALZA

Corporation as Vice President of Biopharmaceutical

Dr. Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. co-founded DURECT and

and Implant Research and Development from June

serves as Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer and a

1995 to June 1998. Prior to that, Dr. Brown held vari-

Director. Dr. Theeuwes was formerly Chief Scientific

ous positions at Syntex Corporation, a pharmaceutical

Officer at ALZA Corporation, where he worked for

company, from October 1985 to May 1995 including

nearly 30 years. Dr. Theeuwes has been a force in

Director of Business Development, Director of Joint

defining the field of controlled drug delivery and is

Ventures for Discovery Research and Program

Director for Syntex Research and Development. 

6

Mark Reiser, Research and Development Machinist,
completes development of tools for the lead product,
DUROS sufentanil.

John Culwell, Senior Product Engineer, analyzes neutron
ray scans of DUROS sufentanil.

Scott Wheelwright, Vice President 
of Manufacturing, and Jason Brenner,
Facilities Manager, discuss the con-
struction plans for the commercial 
manufacturing facility.

Thomas A. Schreck co-founded DURECT and serves

management team. Our team is noted for its breadth 

as Chief Financial Officer and a Director. Prior to

and depth, having worked at a wide range of notable

founding DURECT, he founded and was President 

biotechnology, medical device, drug delivery and

of Schreck Merchant Group, Inc., an investment bank

pharmaceutical industry leaders, including Abbott

specializing in private placements and mergers and

Laboratories, ALZA Corporation, Chiron, Genentech,

acquisitions, from June 1994 to February 1998. 

Guidant, Medtronic and Roche. With regard to tenure

Mr. Schreck also founded and served as Risk Manager

in industry, DURECT averages over 15 years of expe-

to Genesis Merchant Group/Portola Capital Partners,

rience per person in senior management, with each

L.P., a convertible arbitrage fund, from 1993 to 1994.

member possessing extensive experience developing

He also served as a Manager of the Convertible

and successfully bringing products to the marketplace.

Securities Department at Montgomery Securities,

from 1988 to 1991.

DURECT has also recruited leading researchers and

physicians to serve as scientific and medical advisors

Engineers, chemists and scientists with extensive

for DUROS sufentanil.

industry expertise complement DURECT’s executive

7

P R O D U C T P I P E L I N E

Area of Focus / Drug   

Status

RESEARCH 

PRE-CLINICAL

IND 

PHASE I

PHASE II

PHASE III

COMMERCIAL

(510K APPROVAL) 

COMMERCIAL

COMMERCIAL

Commercial
INTRAEAR

ALZET

Development
CHRONIC PAIN

SUFENTANIL

CNS DISORDERS

HYDROMORPHONE

OTHERS

EAR DISORDERS

GENTAMYCIN

OTHERS

Research
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

PROTEIN/PEPTIDE THERAPY

VASCULAR GRAFT

CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

OTHER PHARMACEUTICAL SYSTEMS

CURRENT PRODUCT STATUS

P R O D U C T S A N D M A R K E T S

DURECT’s lead product in develop-

ment, DUROS sufentanil, is designed to

deliver sufentanil, an FDA-approved

opioid, continuously for 3 months for

the treatment of chronic pain. DURECT’s

second product, DUROS hydromorphone,

continuously delivers hydromorphone,

an opioid used as an analgesic, directly

into the spinal cord by a catheter. The

most common treatment for patients in

the chronic pain market is opioids. 

The worldwide opiate market is over 

$1 billion in sales annually. The 

chronic pain market includes patients

with cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis,

neuropathies, spinal cord injury, 

O T H E R A R E A S

O F R E S E A R C H

DURECT is currently engaged
in research and development
efforts on the application 
of pharmaceutical systems
technologies to potential
products for cardiovascular
diseases, vascular graft, 
cancer immunotherapy and
other central nervous systems
disorders. DURECT is also
focused on therapeutic
treatments that help to
minimize hearing loss and
preserve balance function.

8

AIDS-related pain and patients with

failed back surgery.

DURECT currently markets FDA-cleared

catheters for the delivery of fluids to

the inner ear. Meniere’s disease is an

inner ear disorder characterized by

periods of dizziness, nerve deafness,

and buzzing, or ringing in the ear. 

The U.S. market includes about three

million patients, with about 100,000

new cases diagnosed per year.

DURECT also manufactures, sells and

distributes the ALZET osmotic pump

product for use in laboratory research.

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Around The Clock Therapy   Through Continuous Dosing

D U R E C T   A N N U A L R E P O R T   2 0 0 0

DURECT Corporation 

10240 Bubb Road 

Cupertino, CA 95014-4166 

408.777.1417 phone 

408.777.3577 fax

www.durect.com

2000 filed with the SEC on March 30, 2001.
on September 22, 2000 and its 424(b) prospectus filed with the SEC on September 28, 2000 and its Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31,
acceptance of DURECT's products. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the company's S-1 registration statement, filed with the SEC
successful clinical trials, obtain product approvals from regulatory agencies, build a manufacturing facility, manage its growth and costs, as well as marketplace
statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, DURECT's ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize its products, complete
benefits are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking
The statements in this Annual Report regarding DURECT's products in development, product development plans, clinical trials, and expected product 

© 2001 DURECT Corporation

ALZACorporation.
DUROS®is a registered trademark of
are trademarks of DURECT Corporation.
Round Window e-Cath®and ALZET®
IntraEAR®,Round Window (mu)-Cath®,
Trademarks

Cupertino, CA95104

10240 Bubb Road

Attn: Investor Relations

DURECT Corporation

at Company headquarters.

9:00 A.M. local time June 27, 2001 

of stockholders will be held at 

The Company’s annual meeting 

Annual Meeting

www.durect.com

Corporate Website: 

Cupertino, CA95104

10240 Bubb Road 

DURECT Corporation 

Mailing Address: 

without charge upon written request to:

Commission on Form 10-K is available

Email: Schond.Greenway@durect.com

the United States Securities and Exchange

Acopy of the Company’s Annual Report to

SEC Form 10-K

Fax: 408.777.3577 

Tel: 408.777.1417 

Director, Investor Relations 

Schond L. Greenway 

Phone 781.575.3400

For more information please contact:

Vice President of Manufacturing

Scott M. Wheelwright, Ph.D. 

and Business Development 

Vice President of Commercial 

Timothy S. Nelson 

and Development 

Vice President of Regulatory 

Judy A. Magruder 

and General Counsel

Vice President, Legal 

Jean I. Liu, J.D. 

System Programs

and Director of Central Nervous 

Vice President of Preclinical Research 

Randolph M. Johnson, Ph.D.

Vice President of Engineering 

Edward M. Gillis 

and Medical Director

Vice President of Medical Affairs

Dennis M. Fisher, M.D. 

Senior Management

Chief Financial Officer

Thomas A. Schreck 

Canton, MA02021 USA

150 Royal Street 

EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.

Transfer Agent

Menlo Park, CA

Venture Law Group

Legal Counsel

Palo Alto, CA

Ernst & Young LLP

Auditors

Additional Information

Albert L. Zesiger

Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc.

Thomas A. Schreck

Armand Neukermans, Ph.D.

Matthew V. McPherron

President and Chief Executive Officer

Douglas A. Lee

John L. Doyle

James E. Brown, D.V.M. 

James R. Butler

Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer 

James E. Brown, D.V.M.

Board of Directors 

Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. 

Executive Officers

CORPORATEDIRECTORY