Icagen Announces Lifting Of Clinical Hold Of ICA-105665

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Icagen, Inc. (Nasdaq:ICGN) today announced that, following a review of data from recently completed clinical studies as well as the Company's proposed protocol for a Phase II clinical trial in patients with treatment resistant epilepsy, the FDA has notified the Company that the clinical hold on Icagen's IND for ICA-105665, a novel orally available small molecule KCNQ potassium channel agonist, has been removed. "We are pleased with the FDA's action and will shortly be determining the next steps in the clinical development of our epilepsy drug candidate, ICA-105665," noted President and CEO P. Kay Wagoner. 

About Icagen

Icagen, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel orally-administered small molecule drugs that modulate ion channel targets. Utilizing its proprietary know-how and integrated scientific and drug development capabilities, Icagen has identified multiple drug candidates that modulate ion channels. The Company is conducting research and development activities in a number of disease areas, including epilepsy, pain and inflammation. The Company has a clinical stage program in epilepsy and pain. To learn more about Icagen, please visit our website at www.icagen.com .

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Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described in these forward-looking statements are set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in Icagen's most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on November 10, 2010. These risk factors include risks as to Icagen's lack of liquidity and substantial doubt about Icagen's ability to continue as a "going concern;" Icagen's ability to raise additional funding; Icagen's history of net losses and how long Icagen will be able to operate on its existing capital resources; general economic and financial market conditions; Icagen's ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq's continued listing requirements; whether Icagen's product candidates will advance in the clinical trials process; the timing of such clinical trials; whether the results obtained in preliminary studies will be indicative of results obtained in clinical trials; whether the clinical trial results will warrant continued product development; whether and when, if at all, Icagen's product candidates, including ICA-105665 and Icagen's other lead compounds for epilepsy and pain, will receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent regulatory agencies, and for which indications, and if such product candidates receive approval, whether such products will be successfully marketed; and Icagen's dependence on third parties, including manufacturers, suppliers and collaborators. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

CONTACT: Richard D. Katz, M.D.
         EVP, Finance and Corporate Development;
         Chief Financial Officer
         Icagen, Inc.
         [phone]
         [e-mail]