Lu AA24530 shows positive results in major depressive disorder phase II study

H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) today announced positive headline results
from a dose finding clinical trial with the compound Lu AA24530 for
the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

The primary objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of
three doses of Lu AA24530, 5, 10 and 20 mg, to that of placebo in
terms of change from baseline on the Montgomery- Åsberg Depression
Rating Scale (MADRS) total score after six weeks of treatment in
patients with MDD. Duloxetine was included as an active reference
compound in the trial.

Lu AA24530 consistently produced statistically significant
improvements on the primary efficacy endpoint and on key secondary
endpoints. The active reference compound, duloxetine, also produced
significant improvement compared to placebo, thereby validating the
study. This trial also demonstrated that Lu AA24530 was
well-tolerated. Drop-out rates due to serious adverse events were low
in groups treated with Lu AA24530 and were similar to those of
duloxetine.

"These findings demonstrate the potential value of Lu AA24530 in the
treatment of major depressive disorders", says Executive Vice
President Anders Gersel Pedersen, Head of Drug Development at
Lundbeck. "We are pleased with the combination of efficacy and good
tolerability for Lu AA24530 which clearly supports the development of
the compound as a future treatment option for physicians and
patients."

About the study
The clinical trial was the first study to test the efficacy of the
drug in patients with MDD. It was designed as a multicenter,
double-blinded, dose-finding trial and included 652 patients with
major depression. Three doses of Lu AA24530 that were predicted to be
efficacious based on pre-clinical and phase I data were used in the
trial (5, 10 and 20 mg) and 60 mg duloxetine was used as active
reference.

The primary endpoint was the difference in change from baseline to
end of treatment on the MADRS total score after six weeks of daily
treatment. The secondary endpoints included response rate, remission
rate, HAM-D17, Clinical Global Impression (CGI), quality of life and
safety and tolerability.

Financial guidance
The content of this release will have no influence on the Lundbeck
Group's financial result for 2009.

About Lu AA24530
In pre-clinical studies, Lu AA24530 has demonstrated activities as a
monoamine enhancer with reuptake inhibition at monoamine
transporters, and antagonist activity at 5-HT3 and 5-HT2c receptors.
In vivo rat studies have demonstrated that treatment with Lu AA24530
leads to increases in acetylcholine (ACh), noradrenaline (NA),
dopamine (DA) and 5-HT levels in brain regions that play a key role
in the regulation of mood.

About depression
Depression is a very common, debilitating illness affecting around
121 million people worldwide. Major depression is not at all
recognised by society as the serious disorder it actually is. The
symptoms of depression can be chronic or recurrent, and impact
patients both mentally and physically. Depression has a significant
impact on patient quality of life and imposes a considerable burden
on society, yet it is still under-recognised and under-treated.

Symptoms include feelings of sadness, anxiety, loss of interest in
activities, decreased energy, impaired sleep, impaired concentration,
hopelessness, guilt, persistent physical symptoms such as pain and
digestive disorders, and in more severe cases, suicidal thoughts and
suicide attempts.

Takeda and Lundbeck alliance
In September 2007, H. Lundbeck A/S and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Limited formed a strategic alliance for the exclusive co-development
and co-commercialization in the United States and Japan of several
compounds in Lundbeck's pipeline for the treatment of mood and
anxiety disorders. The partnership initially focuses on
co-development and co-commercialization of the two most advanced
compounds in Lundbeck's pipeline for mood and anxiety disorders, Lu
AA21004 and Lu AA24530. Once approved, the companies will co-promote
the products in the United States and Japan.

Lundbeck contacts


Investors:                   Media:

Jacob Tolstrup               Mads Kronborg
Director, IR & Communication Media Relations
+45 36 43 30 79              +45 36 43 28 51

Palle Holm Olesen
Head of Investor Relations
+45 36 43 24 26

Magnus Thorstholm Jensen
Investor Relations Officer
+45 36 43 38 16



About Lundbeck
H. Lundbeck A/S (LUN.CO, LUN DC, HLUKY) is an international
pharmaceutical company highly committed to improve the quality of
life for people suffering from central nervous system (CNS)
disorders. For this purpose Lundbeck is engaged in the research and
development, production, marketing and sale of pharmaceuticals across
the world, targeted at disorders like depression and anxiety,
schizophrenia, insomnia, Huntington's, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
diseases.

Lundbeck was founded in 1915 by Hans Lundbeck in Copenhagen, Denmark,
and employs today over 5,500 people worldwide. Lundbeck is one of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies working with CNS disorders.
In 2008, the company's revenue was DKK 11.3 billion (approximately
EUR 1.5 billion or USD 2.2 billion). For more information, please
visit www.lundbeck.com.