Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Provides Key Goals for 2010

Expects to advance and expand clinical development programs for Serdaxin(R), Zoraxel(TM) and Archexin(TM) and initiate new clinical programs

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: RNN), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, today provided guidance on its key pipeline, scientific and business goals for 2010.

"With our advancing clinical programs and robust pipeline of compounds for cancers and CNS-based disorders, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, depression and sexual dysfunction, Rexahn is extremely well positioned to lead in the development of novel therapeutics for these disorders," said Dr. Chang Ahn, CEO of Rexahn. "We look forward to continuing to expand our clinical programs and reporting data in 2010, bringing us closer to helping these patients in need."

"These goals build on our successes in 2009, during which we announced positive clinical results for two of our lead clinical drug candidates, Serdaxin in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Zoraxel for male sexual dysfunction, and we entered into a licensing and stock purchase agreement with an industry leader, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, for the development of our novel anti-cancer compound, RX-3117," concluded Dr. Ahn.

"While 2009 was an important year for the validation of our pipeline drugs, we are even more excited about the next 12 to 18 months," said Rick Soni, President and Chief Operating Officer of Rexahn. "Over this period, we expect to make significant clinical advances with our lead drugs, Serdaxin, Zoraxel and Archexin, and expand some of them into new indications. Further, we expect to add at least one clinical program in cancer and we will continue to seek out new partnerships across our clinical efforts, as there is significant interest among the bio-pharmaceutical industry in our intellectual property leadership."

Rexahn Goals for 2010:

    --  Expand clinical development of Serdaxin to Parkinson's disease. Current
        clinical studies demonstrate that Serdaxin prevents neuronal death, a
        disease mechanism implicated in many brain disorders, such as
        Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. In a Parkinson's disease animal
        model, Serdaxin has proven to be a powerful neuroprotective agent and
        has significant potential as a next-generation drug for treatment that
        goes beyond the dopamine replacement schemes often used in current
        treatments. Additionally, a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
        study exhibited stronger neuronal activity in dopamine and serotonin
        systems in Serdaxin-treated animals. Rexahn expects to begin a Phase II
        clinical trial in Parkinson's disease in the second quarter of 2010.
    --  Advance Serdaxin in Phase IIb clinical study for depression. Rexahn
        plans to advance Serdaxin in a Phase IIb clinical trial in depression.
        In October 2009 Rexahn reported top-line Phase IIa clinical results for
        Serdaxin for MDD. The study demonstrated that patients ages 18-65 with
        MDD exhibited clinically meaningful improvement over baseline in
        symptoms of depression as measured by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression
        Rating Scale (MADRS) total score. Serdaxin exhibited an onset of action
        in less than two weeks and was found to be safe and well tolerated,
        without any of the serious side effects often linked to currently
        marketed antidepressant drugs.
    --  Advance clinical development of Zoraxel for sexual dysfunction. In the
        first half of 2010, Rexahn expects to submit a protocol to the U.S. Food
        and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Zoraxel Phase IIb clinical study in
        sexual dysfunction. In May 2009 Rexahn announced data from a Phase IIa
        clinical study demonstrating Zoraxel's potential as an effective, new
        treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) and as a safer alternative to
        currently marketed drugs for ED. The double blind, randomized,
        placebo-controlled, dose ranging study found that human subjects treated
        with Zoraxel demonstrated improved erectile function as measured by
        changes over the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)
        baseline score within the 8-week treatment period.
    --  Continue clinical development of Archexin for the treatment of
        pancreatic cancer. Archexin is a first in class, potent Akt protein
        kinase inhibitor with potential utility to inhibit cancer cell survival
        and proliferation, angiogenesis, and drug resistance and is currently
        being studied in Phase II clinical trials in pancreatic cancer. Rexahn
        expects to complete these trials by the end of 2010. In previous
        clinical studies, Archexin has demonstrated an excellent human safety
        profile, with fatigue being the only noticeable side effect. Archexin
        has FDA Orphan drug designation for five different cancer types,
        including renal cell carcinoma, glioblastoma, pancreatic, stomach and
        ovarian cancers.
    --  Initiate clinical program for RX-3117.Rexahn and partner Teva
        Pharmaceutical Industries are co-developing novel anti-cancer
        compound,RX-3117, for the treatment of cancer, in particular,
        gemcitabine-resistant lung cancer. RX-3117 has shown potent anti-tumor
        effects in xenograft human tumor models. Preclinical studies have
        revealed the compound's high bioavailability and superior safety profile
        to gemcitabine, which is the current first-line therapy for pancreatic
        and other cancers. Rexahn and Teva expect to begin human clinical trials
        for RX-3117 in Q4 2010.
    --  Form new partnerships. Rexahn seeks to form new product collaborations
        in addition to the partnership with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries;
        scientific platform alliances to maximize the utility of the Company's
        three powerful discovery platforms; and research collaborations to
        further expand the pipeline candidates.

About Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to commercializing first in class and market leading therapeutics for cancer, CNS disorders, sexual dysfunction and other unmet medical needs. Rexahn currently has three drug candidates in Phase II clinical trials, Archexin(TM), Serdaxin(R), and Zoraxel(TM) - all potential best in class therapeutics - and a robust pipeline of preclinical compounds to treat multiple cancers and CNS disorders. Rexahn also operates key R&D programs of nano-medicines, 3D-GOLD, and TIMES drug discovery platforms. For more information, please visit www.rexahn.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Rexahn's actual results may differ materially from anticipated results, and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements, as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including Rexahn's lack of profitability, and the need for additional capital to operate its business to develop its product candidates; the risk that Rexahn's development efforts relating to its product candidates may not be successful; the possibility of being unable to obtain regulatory approval of Rexahn's product candidates; the risk that the results of clinical trials may not be completed on time or support Rexahn's claims; demand for and market acceptance of Rexahn's drug candidates; Rexahn's reliance on third party researchers and manufacturers to develop its product candidates; Rexahn's ability to develop and obtain protection of its intellectual property; and other risk factors set forth from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rexahn assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


    Source: Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.