Evoke Pharma Granted European Union Formulation Patent for EVK-001

SOLANA BEACH, Calif., April 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evoke Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:EVOK), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, today announced that the European Patent Office has granted the Company European Union (EU) patent no. 2376075 for its lead product candidate, EVK-001. This patent is related to formulations used in EVK-001, the Company's intranasal delivery formulation of metoclopramide for the treatment of symptoms related to diabetic gastroparesis in women.

EVK-001, currently in a Phase 3 clinical trial, is a novel treatment for gastroparesis, which is a disease that can hinder the absorption of oral medications due to symptoms including erratic gastric emptying, as well as nausea and vomiting. Evoke's intranasal formulation is designed to provide reliable and predictable delivery of metoclopramide, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat symptoms associated with gastroparesis, through absorption directly into the blood stream, enabling the drug to avoid a patient's impaired stomach.

Dave Gonyer, R.Ph., President and CEO, stated, "While we continue our efforts to complete the Phase 3 clinical trial of EVK-001 and file a New Drug Application (NDA) in the U.S., this European patent provides additional support and opportunities for the Company as we work to offer a safe and effective treatment to gastroparesis patients globally. We are excited about the potential to bring this novel and patented intranasal product to market and help those suffering from this difficult disease."

About Evoke Pharma, Inc.

Evoke is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development of drugs to treat GI disorders and diseases. The Company is developing EVK-001, a metoclopramide nasal spray for the relief of symptoms associated with acute and recurrent gastroparesis in women with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic gastroparesis is a GI disorder afflicting millions of sufferers worldwide, in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents resulting in serious digestive system symptoms. Metoclopramide is the only product currently approved in the United States to treat gastroparesis, and is currently available only in oral and intravenous forms. EVK-001 is a novel formulation of this drug, designed to provide systemic delivery of metoclopramide through intranasal administration. Visit www.EvokePharma.com for more information.

Safe Harbor Statement

Evoke cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives of these terms or other similar expressions. These statements are based on the company's current beliefs and expectations. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the completion of Evoke's ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial of EVK-001, the potential approval and commercialization of EVK-001 as a new and effective treatment for gastroparesis and Evoke's submission of an NDA. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Evoke that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in Evoke's business, including, without limitation: Evoke is entirely dependent on the success of EVK-001, for which it has commenced a Phase 3 clinical trial and male companion trial, and Evoke cannot be certain that it will be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize, EVK-001; the results observed in female patients with symptoms associated with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis in Evoke's Phase 2b clinical trial of EVK-001 may not be predictive of the safety and efficacy results in the Phase 3 clinical trial; the inherent risks of clinical development of EVK-001, including continued delays in enrollment and completion of the Phase 3 trial as well as potential delays in any other clinical trials and studies; Evoke may not be able to obtain, maintain and enforce its patents and other intellectual property rights, and it may be prohibitively difficult or costly to protect such rights; Evoke will require substantial additional funding to complete the Phase 3 clinical trial and potentially commercialize EVK-001 as well as to finance additional development requirements, and may be unable to raise capital when needed, including to fund ongoing operations; the potential for adverse safety findings relating to EVK-001 to delay or prevent regulatory approval or commercialization; Evoke's reliance on outsourcing arrangements for many of its activities, including clinical development, manufacturing and supply of EVK-001, and Evoke's current lack of long-term commercial manufacturing agreements; and other risks detailed in Evoke's prior press releases and in the periodic reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and Evoke undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

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