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Durect Corp.

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Employees 51-200
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FY2001 Annual Report · Durect Corp.
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Pharmaceutical Systems for Chronic Disease

™

DURECT CORPORATION 2001 annual report

DUR210-01_final.qx  5/14/02  04:52 PM  Page 2

DURECT CORPORATION is pioneering the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical systems for the treatment of

chronic debilitating diseases and enabling biotechnology-based pharmaceutical products.  DURECT's goal is to deliver the

right drug to the right site in the right amount at the right time. DURECT's lead product in development, the CHRONOGESIC™

(sufentanil) Pain Therapy System, a 3-month product for the treatment of chronic pain, completed a pilot phase III study in

November 2001.  DURECT owns three biodegradable drug delivery platform technologies, including the SABER™ Delivery

System (a versatile depot injectable particularly useful for protein delivery), the MICRODUR™ Biodegradable Microparticles

(microsphere injectable system) and the DURIN™ Biodegradable Implant (drug-loaded polymer implant system).

DATE / September 2001

EVENT / We announced positive Phase II results on

CHRONOGESIC™ for long-term pain relief.

DATE / April 2001

EVENT / We announced the acquisition of 

Southern BioSystems, Inc. which added

three new proprietary drug delivery 

platforms to our technology base.

2001 Highlights

DATE / November 2001

EVENT / We announced the initiation of our Phase III 

program for the CHRONOGESIC™ product and

the completion of a pilot Phase III trial.

DATE / February 2001

EVENT / We announced acceleration of completion

of patient enrollment in our Phase II clinical

trial for CHRONOGESIC™.

DATE / October 2001

EVENT / We announced results from a research collaboration with the University

of Maastricht showing achievement of normal blood flow to the ischemic

heart of a diseased animal following local administration of growth factors.

DUR210-01_final.qx  5/14/02  04:16 PM  Page 1

A YEAR OF EXPANSION, PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT

To Our Stockholders

2001  was  an  exceptional  year  for  DURECT.  We  made  substantial  progress  in  the  development  of  our  CHRONOGESIC™

(sufentanil) Pain Therapy System, a product that continuously delivers pain medication for three months to treat patients

suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain. We announced positive results from a Phase II trial for the CHRONOGESIC™

product and completed a pilot Phase III study during the year. The credit for our accomplishments last year goes to our

employees. Their experience, dedication and hard work have been responsible for our success.

OUR TECHNOLOGIES During the past year, we also acquired Southern BioSystems, Inc. and added an experienced team of 

specialists and patented technologies in the field of depot injectables, implants and biodegradable polymers. Through our

internal  development  programs  and  with  the  acquisition  of  Southern  BioSystems, we  have  increased  the  breadth  and

depth of our technology platforms. 

Our  research  programs  and  broad  technology  base  have  allowed  us  to  make  significant  progress  in  four

therapeutic franchise areas, including pain management, central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular diseases and

biotechnology-based therapies. 

There are a host of product candidates that we are currently evaluating. We are focusing our development efforts

on a selected number of products, some of which we will commercialize ourselves and others which we expect to partner

with  pharmaceutical  and  other  life  sciences  companies.  To  that  end, we  are  conducting  studies  to  eliminate  the  key

hurdles  for  each  of  these  programs  in  order  to  establish  realistic  plans  for  product  development.  We  are  currently  in

discussions with potential corporate partners for over half of our products we have in development.

BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE DURECT is a 4-year-old company, but the experience of our employees, who are industry leaders in

this field, goes back over 30 years. We have been able to recruit an accomplished management team that has participated

in bringing literally billions of dollars worth of products to the market. Our vision for product development is to leverage

the experience of our employees, and combine known drugs (both in terms of efficacy and side effect profile) with proven

systems to minimize product development risk and speed time to market. This strategy reduces much of the development

risk that is inherent in traditional pharmaceutical product discovery. 

We believe we have the experience and the corporate strategy in place to become a leading specialty pharma-

ceutical company. We plan to aggressively advance our product candidates and search for new business opportunities

with partners that will increase value for our stockholders and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases

and conditions throughout the world. 

Jim Brown, D.V.M.
PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND CO-FOUNDER

Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc.
CHAIRMAN, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER
AND CO-FOUNDER

Tom Schreck
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
AND CO-FOUNDER

DURECT CORPORATION  2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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Improving Patients’ Quality of Life

OUR MISSION is to restore the well being of patients through developing and marketing innovative pharmaceutical

systems that treat chronic debilitating diseases and enable biotechnology-based products.

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Moving Patients from Dependence to Independence

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A LEAD PRODUCT WITH LARGE POTENTIAL

CHRONOGESIC™ (Sufentanil) Pain Therapy System

PAIN FRANCHISE Chronic pain, defined as pain lasting 6 months or longer, is a significant problem associated with chronic

diseases, including cancer and various neurological and skeletal disorders. Chronic nonmalignant pain affects as many

as 34 million Americans annually. In addition, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 8.4 million Americans alive

today have a history of cancer. About 1.2 million new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed in 2000, and about

50%-70% of cancer patients experience chronic pain during the course of the disease. Sales of opioids for the treatment

of moderate to severe chronic malignant and nonmalignant pain exceed $2 billion. 

With our lead product, the CHRONOGESIC™ (sufentanil) Pain Therapy System, we intend to target patients with

opioid  responsive  chronic  pain  that  results  from  a  variety  of  causes.  The  CHRONOGESIC™ product  delivers  sufentanil

continuously within the therapeutic window, at physician prescribed doses for three months of pain therapy. Sufentanil is

an opioid that is currently used in hospitals as an analgesic.

The CHRONOGESIC™ product addresses the potential problems of peaks (too much medication) and troughs (too

little medication) associated with pills and patches. This product will provide an alternative to current therapies for the

treatment of chronic pain and may provide for less risk of potential misuse, abuse and diversion than traditional pills or

patches. The ability of the CHRONOGESIC™ product to provide controlled dosing will allow physicians to prescribe and safely

administer to patients, a clinically necessary opioid for moderate to severe chronic pain for three months. 

In 2001, we made significant progress in the development of the CHRONOGESIC™ product. We completed a Phase II

trial in which patients preferred the CHRONOGESIC™ product by a two-to-one margin versus their previous pain medication.

Patients not only reported a reduction in side effects when compared with their previous medications, but also reported

improved  quality  of  life, such  as  improved  sleep  patterns.  In  2001  we  also  completed  a  pilot  Phase  III  study  which

confirmed our conversion strategy for transitioning patients from other opioid medications to the CHRONOGESIC™ product.

The CHRONOGESIC™ product’s potential to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic pain will

be evaluated in pivotal Phase III clinical trials starting in 2002. The primary objectives of our pivotal Phase III program are

to demonstrate that patients can be safely transitioned from a variety of existing opioids, such as pills and patches, to

the CHRONOGESIC™ product, as well as to demonstrate that the CHRONOGESIC™ product provides safe and effective pain

relief at least equivalent to the patient’s existing pain therapy. 

The  CHRONOGESIC™ product  uses  a  proven  drug  delivery  technology  called  the  DUROS® system  developed  at

ALZA, a Johnson & Johnson company.

Potential Advantages for Patients:

CHRONOGESIC™ vs. Conventional Drug Administration:

• More consistent pain control

than previous regimens

• Increased activity tolerance

• Improved sleep

• Patients can forget about their condition

OVERDOSE
SIDE EFFECTS
DRUG WASTE

THERAPEUTIC DOSE

UNDERDOSE
LOSS OF EFFECT

l

e
v
e
L

g
u
r

D

CONVENTIONAL

CHRONOGESIC™

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A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM

Delivering the Right Drug, to the Right Site,

in the Right Amount at the Right Time

THE DUROS® TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM is an implantable drug-dispensing osmotic pump. The system is shaped as a small rod with

titanium housing, which can be as small as a matchstick, designed to release medication. We have licensed this proven

and patented technology for specified fields of use from ALZA Corporation. The potential of the DUROS® technology as a

platform for providing drug therapy was demonstrated by the FDA’s approval of ALZA’s VIADUR product (leoprolide acetate

implant) for the palliative treatment of prostate cancer.

The DUROS® pump operates like a miniature syringe loaded with a drug inside the drug reservoir. Through osmosis,

water from the body is slowly drawn through a semipermeable membrane into the pump by salt residing in the engine 

compartment. This water fills the pump engine compartment, which slowly and continuously pushes a piston, dispensing

the  correct  amount  of  drug  out  the  drug  reservoir  and  into  the  body.  The  osmotic  engine  does  not  require  batteries,

switches or other electromechanical parts in order to operate. The amount of drug delivered by the system is regulated

by this osmotic mechanism and by the concentration of the drug in the drug reservoir. 

The DUROS® system can be used for therapies requiring systemic or site-specific administration of a drug. To

deliver drugs systemically, the DUROS® system is placed just under the skin of the upper arm in an outpatient procedure.

This procedure is completed in just 3 to 5 minutes using local anesthetic. 

To deliver a drug to a specific site, we are developing proprietary miniaturized catheter technology. The catheter

can be attached to the DUROS® system to direct the flow of a drug to the target organ, tissue or synthetic medical structure,

such as a vascular graft. Site-specific delivery enables a therapeutic concentration of a drug to be administered to the

desired  target  without  exposing  the  entire  body  to  a  similar  concentration.  The  precision, size  and  performance  of  the

DUROS® system will allow for continuous site-specific delivery to a variety of precise locations within the body.

COMPOUNDS FOR USE WITH THE DUROS® TECHNOLOGY The DUROS® technology has the potential to provide more flexibility than 

competitive technologies regarding the types of drugs that can be administered, including proteins, peptides and genes

because the drug dispensing mechanism is independent from the drug substance.

Our  unique  drug  delivery  capabilities  may  accelerate  the  development  and  commercialization  of  many  biotech

compounds that may not be an effective and safe therapy when administered using conventional methods. When used

with our proprietary catheters, the DUROS® system can deliver large biotech molecules to their intended site of action to

increase efficacy and reduce side effects.

DUROS® Technology:

Potential Advantages for Prescribers:

Semi-permeable
Membrane

Engine
Compartment

Drug Reservoir

Orifice

Osmotic Agent

Piston

Proprietary Drug Formulation

• Physician controlled dosing

• Constant, stable drug delivery,

no peaks and troughs

• Long duration between treatments,

fewer visits and prescriptions

• Less risk of diversion/abuse/misuse

2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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Product Pipeline

TECHNOLOGIES Our  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. We are currently developing products in the 

following franchises:

PAIN / CARDIOVASCULAR / CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM / BIOTECHNOLOGY

FOCUS / Antipsychotic

INDICATION / Psychotic Disorders

DRUG / Anti-Psychotic Agent

SYSTEM / SABER™

FRANCHISE / Central Nervous System

FOCUS / SABER™ Oral

INDICATION / Various

DRUG / Various Compounds

SYSTEM / SABER™

FRANCHISE / Pain and Others

FOCUS / Brain Tumor Local Delivery

INDICATION / Brain Cancer

DRUG / Anti-Tumor Agent

SYSTEM / DUROS®

FRANCHISE / Central Nervous System

RESEARCH

PRE-CLINICAL

FOCUS / Biotechnology

INDICATION / Various

DRUG / Various Agents

SYSTEM / SABER™

FRANCHISE / Biotechnology

FOCUS / Pericardial

INDICATION / Coronary Disease

DRUG / Angiogenic Factors

SYSTEM / DUROS®

FRANCHISE / Cardiovascular

FOCUS / Spinal Delivery

INDICATION / Chronic Pain

DRUG / Opiate

SYSTEM / DUROS®

FRANCHISE / Pain

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PRODUCT / CHRONOGESIC™

INDICATION / Chronic Pain

DRUG / Sufentanil

SYSTEM / DUROS®

FRANCHISE / Pain

FOCUS / SABER™ Injection

INDICATION / Post Operative Pain

DRUG / Local Anesthetic

SYSTEM / SABER™

FRANCHISE / Pain

PRODUCT / IntraEAR® Micro-Catheter

APPLICATION / Inner Ear Disorders

PHASE III

COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

PRODUCT / ALZET® Osmotic Pumps

APPLICATION / Pre-Clinical Research

PRODUCT / LACTEL® Biodegradable Polymers

APPLICATION / Components for depot

and implant technology

2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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DURECT’s Product Franchises

PAIN FRANCHISE /  LOCAL POST-OPERATIVE PAIN In  the  United  States, 25  million  hospital  surgeries  occur  annually.  The  current

standard  of  care  for  post  surgical  pain  includes  oral  opiate  and  non-opiate  analgesics, transdermal  opiate  patches,

and muscle relaxants. While oral analgesics may control post surgical pain, they commonly cause side effects such as

drowsiness, constipation, and cognitive impairment. Post surgical pain can be treated with local anesthetics, however the

usefulness of these medications is limited by their short duration of action. 

We  are  developing  a  sustained-release  formulation  of  a  local  anesthetic  using  our  SABER™ Delivery  System 

for the treatment of post surgical pain. This analgesic will be injected by the physician at the time of surgery and placed

adjacent to the surgical site. By delivering effective amounts of a potent analgesic to the location from which the pain 

originates, local pain control can be achieved with minimal exposure to the remainder of the body, and hence minimal side

effects.  The  duration  of  local  delivery  coincides  with  the  typical  timeline  by  which  post  surgical  pain  resolves  in  most

patients. We are currently conducting preclinical studies on this product.

PAIN FRANCHISE / SPINAL DELIVERY PAIN Infusion of opiates into the spinal fluid has become accepted medical therapy in patients

who  find  high  dose  oral  or  transdermal  opioids  ineffective  or  who  experience  side  effects  that  make  systemic  therapy

unacceptable.  Although  there  are  many  implantable  infusion  pumps  on  the  market  today, these  pumps  tend  to  be

relatively large and require a costly surgical procedure to implant. A need exists for a minimally invasive, spinal infusion

device that has improved cost benefit for patients with chronic pain. 

Our  strategy  is  to  develop  an  infusion  system  that  can  deliver  an  opioid  into  the  spinal  fluid  via  a  catheter. 

This product will be considerably smaller and less invasive than currently available spinal infusion pumps, allowing for

implantation on an outpatient basis. We are currently conducting pre-clinical studies on this product. 

CARDIOVASCULAR FRANCHISE About 58 million Americans, roughly 25% of the population, are currently living with some form of

cardiovascular disease. Ischemic heart disease, one of the major forms of cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause

of death worldwide. Existing treatments for ischemia, or insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle, include cardiovascu-

lar bypass, angioplasty and the use of cardiovascular stents and similar medical devices. While effective, these treatments

are invasive and in roughly 40% of patients, ischemia returns within 2 years. There is a need for less invasive and more

long lasting treatments for ischemic heart disease.

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In collaboration with the University of Maastricht in The Netherlands, we are working to develop methods for treating

ischemic heart disease and other chronic cardiovascular diseases through continuous pericardial delivery. Our research

in animal models suggests that ischemic heart disease may be treated by continuously delivering an angiogenic factor to

spur new blood vessel growth, thereby increasing blood flow, and restoring function to the diseased heart. 

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM FRANCHISE Millions  of  people  suffer  from  chronic  diseases  and  disorders  of  the  central  nervous 

system (CNS), including brain and spinal cord tumors, psychosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. 

It is expected that 180,000 new brain tumors will be diagnosed in the United States in 2001. Current treatments for CNS

tumors include radiation, resection and chemotherapy. Treatment success rates vary by tumor type, but are generally low

and the risk of side effects or disability is high. It is generally recognized that improvements in treating primary metastatic

brain tumors are needed, particularly for those which are inoperable.

We currently have a collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University, Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery, explor-

ing the feasibility of treating tumors of the brain stem by site-specific delivery of a chemotherapeutic agent directly to the

tumor via a DUROS® system attached to a catheter. The program is currently in preclinical development studies in primates. 

It is estimated that about 2.5 million patients are afflicted with schizophrenia in the United States, the incidence

is about 250 million worldwide. Adherence to prescribed drug regimens is recognized as a significant treatment obstacle

in the schizophrenic population. Although it is estimated that 50% of patients in the U.S. are either untreated or under

treated, the aggregated sales of antipyschotic medications in 2000 exceeded $5.7 billion. Opportunities exist to apply

our pharmaceutical systems for treatment of these and other CNS disorders. 

We are developing our DUROS® platform technology in combination with various catheter systems for targeted

delivery of drugs to treat select CNS disorders. We are also developing our bioerodible platform technologies for systemic

and targeted delivery of select CNS disorders. 

BIOTECHNOLOGY FRANCHISE Drugs developed out of the biotechnology industry are today mainly administered by repeated, frequent

injection. The desirability of dosage forms that can reliably administer proteins for long periods of time is readily acknowl-

edged. We are currently researching various products utilizing our biodegradable platform technologies in combination with

protein molecules having known efficacy against major diseases with a goal to develop products that require less frequent

administration than products currently available on the market. 

DUROS® Catheter:

2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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Platform Technologies with Wide Applications

SABER™ The SABER™ system is a patented controlled-release technology that can be formulated for systemic or local admin-

istration  of  active  agents  via  the  parenteral  (i.e.  non-oral)  or  oral  route.  We  are  researching  and  developing  a  variety 

of controlled-release products based on the SABER™ technology. These include injectable controlled-release products for

systemic and local delivery and oral products.

Our SABER™ system has the potential to provide the basis for the development of a state-of-the-art biodegradable,

controlled-release depot injectable. The SABER™ system uses a high-viscosity base component, such as sucrose acetate

isobutyrate  (SAIB), to  provide  controlled  release  of  active  ingredients.  When  the  high  viscosity  SAIB  is  formulated  with

drug, a biocompatible diluent and other additives, the resulting formulation is liquid enough to inject easily with standard

syringes and needles. After injection of a SABER™ formulation, the solvent diffuses away, leaving a viscous deposit. 

The SABER™ system has the potential to successfully deliver therapeutic levels of a wide spectrum of drugs from

1 day to 3 months from a single subcutaneous injection. Based on research and development work to date, our SABER™

technology has shown the following advantages:

• Peptide/Protein Delivery – The chemical nature of the SABER™ system tends to stabilize proteins and peptides. For this

reasons, we  believe  that  the  SABER™ system  is  well  suited  as  a  platform  for  biotechnology  therapeutics  based  on 

proteins and peptides. 

• Less Burst – Animal studies have shown that injectables based on SABER™ can be associated with less post-injection

burst than is typically associated with other controlled-release technologies.

• High Drug Concentration - Drug concentration in a SABER™ formulation can be as high as 30%, considerably greater

than is typical with other commercially available controlled-release technologies. 

• Ease of Administration – Prior to administration, SABER™ formulations are fairly liquid and therefore can be administered

through small needles. Additionally, because of the higher drug concentration of SABER™ formulations, less volume is

required to be injected. Small injection volumes and more liquid solutions result in easier, less painful administration.

• Strong Patent Protection - The SABER™ system and various applications of this technology to pharmaceutics and drug

delivery are covered by United States and foreign patents.

• Ease  of  Manufacture  -  Compared  to  microspheres  and  other  polymer-based  controlled-release  injectable  systems,

SABER™ is readily manufacturable at low cost.

The SABER™ system has the potential to deliver
drugs from 1 day to 3 months from a single
injection. A diluent is added to the SABER™
formulation prior to injection to provide ease
of administration. After injection of the SABER™
formulation, the diluent diffuses away,
leaving a viscous deposit.

SABER™ Only

SABER™ + Diluent

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SABER™ ORAL DOSAGE FORMS The SABER™ technology may be used as the basis of controlled-release oral technology, which 

can  transform  short-acting  oral  dosage  forms  into  controlled-release  oral  products.  In  March  2002  we  entered  into  an

agreement with Cardinal Health Pharmaceutical Technologies and Services Center, Inc. to explore the feasibility of pro-

ducing long acting gel-cap products, using SABER™ technology as core formulations. R.P. Scherer Corporation, a subsidiary

of Cardinal Health, is a leading developer and manufacturer of soft-gelatin capsules, rapid-dissolving tablets and other

drug delivery systems.

THE DURIN™ BIODEGRADABLE IMPLANT TECHNOLOGY Our DURIN™ technology is a biodegradable implant that enables parenteral (i.e.,

non-oral) delivery of drugs from several weeks to six months or more. The DURIN™ technology can deliver a wide variety

of drug compounds as well as small and large molecules. Our proprietary implant design allows for a variety of possible

delivery profiles including constant rate delivery. Because DURIN™ implants are biodegradable, at the end of its delivery

life, what remains of the DURIN™ implant is absorbed by the body. We are researching and developing products based on

the DURIN™ technology for a variety of chronic disease applications. 

THE MICRODUR™ BIODEGRADABLE MICROPARTICULATE TECHNOLOGY Our MICRODUR™ technology is a biodegradable microparticulate depot

injectable.  Within  our  subsidiary, Southern  BioSystems, we  have  experience  in  microencapsulation  of  a  broad  spectrum 

of  drugs  using  polymers  and  co-polymers  of  lactic  and  glycolic  acid.  In  our  MICRODUR™ process, both  standard  and 

proprietary  polymers  are  used  to  entrap  an  active  agent  in  solid  matrices  or  capsules  comprising  particles  generally

between 10 and 125 microns in diameter. Through suitable choice of polymers and processing, sustained release from a

few days to many months can be achieved. As with the DURIN™ technology, MICRODUR™ particles degrade fully in the body

after  the  active  agent  is  released.  Our  range  of  experience  extends  from  manufacture  of  the  polymer  raw  material  to

process and product development, scale up and cGMP manufacture. 

BIRMINGHAM POLYMERS INC. (BPI) Is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern BioSystems. BPI designs, develops and manufactures

for pharmaceutical clients a wide range of standard and custom polymers under the LACTEL® tradename. These materials

are used by Southern BioSystems and other BPI customers for a variety of controlled-release and medical-device applications,

including several FDA-approved commercial products.

From Left to Right: the SABER™ Oral
dosage form, the DURIN™ Biodegradable
Implant Technology and the MICRODUR™
Biodegradable Microparticulate Technology
(microscopic photograph).

2001 ANNUAL REPORT

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A HISTORY OF INNOVATION AND SUCCESS

Specialized Capabilities and an Experienced Management Team

CAPABILITIES OF DURECT DURECT is a development stage company based in Cupertino, California. Over 150 employees focus on

developing therapies that offer improved outcomes for patients suffering from chronic diseases. Over 90 of these employees

are focused in technical development functions of drug research, product engineering, formulation and development. 

The DURECT manufacturing facility, located near our headquarters in Cupertino, is a fully integrated facility covering

all aspects of the CHRONOGESIC™ product production, from raw material staging through packaging. Designed to meet initial

requirements for market launch, the facility was constructed according to FDA requirements for cGMP operation.

The manufacturing facility occupies approximately 8,000 square feet of space within our laboratory and engineering

building and consists of three types of areas: component preparation; component subassembly, and aseptic filling operations. 

The Southern BioSystem facility in Birmingham, Alabama, manufactures biodegradable polymers for the pharma-

ceutical and medical device industries and develops controlled-release products for the Company and its customers based

on our three proprietary delivery platforms.

DURECT also sells the ALZET® Osmotic Pumps for use in laboratory research and IntraEAR® catheters which are

used by physicians to treat inner ear disorders.

SENIOR MANAGEMENT In order to build a successful pharmaceutical systems organization, a company must have the right people to

accomplish its goals. Our management team has extensive and broad experience from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and

medical device industries. As far as tenure in industry, DURECT averages over 15 years of experience per person in senior man-

agement, with each member possessing extensive experience developing and successfully bringing products to the marketplace.

< SOUTHERN BIOSYSTEMS EXECUTIVES

< DURECT SENIOR MANAGEMENT

PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Timothy S. Nelson, Vice President of Business and Commercial Development, Jean I Liu, Vice President, Legal and General Counsel,

Scott  M.  Wheelwright, Ph.D., Vice  President  of  Manufacturing, Evelyn  R.  Robledo, Vice  President  of  Quality  Assurance  and  Compliance, Judy  A.  Magruder,

Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Development, Randolph M. Johnson, Ph.D., Vice President of Preclinical Research and Director of Central Nervous

System Programs, Edward M. Gillis, Vice President of Product Engineering, Tai Wah Chan, Ph.D., Vice President of Pharmaceutical Research and Development,

Dennis M. Fisher, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Medical Director, Su IL Yum, Vice President of Engineering. PICTURED SEPARATELY Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D.

Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Southern Biosystems, Inc., Wallace B. Smith, Ph.D., President of Southern Biosystems, Inc. 

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CORPORATE DIRECTORY

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
James E. Brown, D.V.M. 
President and Chief Executive Officer

Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc. 
Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer 

Thomas A. Schreck 
Chief Financial Officer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Felix Theeuwes, D.Sc., Chairman

SENIOR MANAGEMENT
Judy A. Magruder 
Senior Vice President
of Regulatory and Development

Tai Wah Chan, Ph.D. 
Vice President of Pharmaceutical
Research and Development

Dennis M. Fisher, MD 
Vice President of Medical Affairs 
and Medical Director

James E. Brown, D.V.M.

Thomas A. Schreck

James R. Butler

John L. Doyle

Armand P. Neukermans, Ph.D.

Matthew V. McPherron 

Albert L. Zesiger

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information please contact:
Schond L. Greenway
Senior Director, Investor Relations
and Strategic Planning

Tel: 408.777.1417
Fax: 408.777.3577
Email: schond.greenway@durect.com

Mailing Address:
DURECT Corporation
10240 Bubb Road
Cupertino, CA 95014

Corporate Website:
www.durect.com

Edward M. Gillis 
Vice President of Product Engineering 

Randolph M. Johnson, Ph.D.
Vice President of Preclinical
Research and Director of
Central Nervous System Programs

Jean I Liu 
Vice President,
Legal and General Counsel

Timothy S. Nelson 
Vice President of Business
and Commercial Development 

Evelyn R. Robledo
Vice President of Quality Assurance
and Compliance

Scott M. Wheelwright, Ph.D. 
Vice President of Manufacturing

Su IL Yum, Ph.D.
Vice President of Engineering

SOUTHERN BIOSYSTEMS, INC.
Wallace B. Smith, Ph.D.
President

Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D.
Vice President
and Chief Scientific Officer

ANNUAL MEETING
The Company’s annual meeting
of stockholders will be held at
9:00 A.M. local time on June 5, 2002
at Company headquarters.

AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP
Palo Alto, CA

LEGAL COUNSEL
Venture Law Group
Menlo Park, CA

TRANSFER AGENT
EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.
150 Royall Street 
Canton, MA 02021 USA 
Phone (781) 575-3400

SEC FORM 10-K
A copy of the Company’s annual
report to the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission on Form
10-K is available without charge upon
written request to:
DURECT Corporation
Attn: Investor Relations
10240 Bubb Road
Cupertino, CA 95014

TRADEMARKS
DURECT™, CHRONOGESIC™, IntraEAR®
and ALZET® are trademarks of DURECT
Corporation. SABER™, MICRODUR™ and
DURIN™ are trademarks of Southern
BioSystems, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of DURECT Corporation.
LACTEL® is a trademark of Birmingham
Polymers, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of Southern BioSystems,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
DURECT Corporation. DUROS® is a
trademark of ALZA Corporation. 

The statements in this annual report regarding DURECT’s products in development, product development plans, or expected
product benefits or anticipated product markets, are forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties that could
cause  actual  results  to  differ  materially  from  those  in  such  forward-looking  statements.  Potential  risks  and  uncertainties
include, but  are  not  limited  to, DURECT’s  ability  to  develop, manufacture  and  commercialize  its  products, successfully
complete clinical trials, and obtain product and manufacturing approvals from regulatory agencies, as well as marketplace
acceptance of DURECT’s products. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the company’s quarter-
ly and annual reports filed with the SEC, including Annual Report on Form 10K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2002 under
the heading “Factors that may affect future results.” 

The CHRONOGESIC™ (sufentanil) Pain Therapy System is under development by DURECT and has not been submitted or
approved for commercialization by the US Food and Drug Administration or other health authorities.

© 2002 DURECT Corporation

DESIGN: Artemis® Creative, Inc.   www.artemis-creative.com

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DURECT CORPORATION 10240 Bubb Road  Cupertino, CA 95014-4166  phone 408.777.1417  fax 408.777.3577  www.durect.com 

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