WESTLAKE, Texas, Feb. 4, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MBRK), a pharmaceutical company committed to developing anti-infective products that fulfill unmet medical needs, today announced that it has retained Almac Pharma Services(r) to provide packaging services for physician samples of MOXATAG (amoxicillin extended-release) Tablets, 775 mg. Almac Pharma Services(r) will work closely with MiddleBrook's chosen commercial manufacturer, STADA Production Ireland(r).

"MOXATAG samples will be a key element of our nationwide launch to health care professionals in March 2009," MiddleBrook President and CEO John Thievon said. "Physician samples allow doctors to quickly initiate treatment in conjunction with a patient's office visit. Almac will provide services integral to the MOXATAG launch, and we're pleased to have Almac as a partner."

Almac Pharma Services(r) Vice President of Commercial Operations David Downey said, "Almac is delighted to be working with MiddleBrook to produce sample packs in support of the MOXATAG product launch."

         MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals Reports Inducement Grants
                 Under NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4350

MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals also announced today that on Jan. 30, 2009, it granted options to purchase 412,500 shares of MiddleBrook's common stock to one hundred and thirty-eight (138) new employees as a material inducement for them to join MiddleBrook. The options were granted pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 4350(i)(1)(A)(iv) and under MiddleBrook's New Hire Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by MiddleBrook's Board of Directors on Sept. 26, 2008. The options have a per share exercise price equal to the closing price of MiddleBrook's common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the business day immediately preceding the grant date, a ten-year term and vesting over four years, with 25 percent of the options vesting one year from the grant date and 1/48th of the options vesting monthly thereafter. The options have a grant date of Jan. 30, 2009.

About MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals:

MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MBRK) is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing anti-infective products that fulfill unmet medical needs. We are currently developing a portfolio of anti-infective products utilizing our proprietary, once-a-day pulsatile delivery technology called Pulsys. Our near-term corporate strategy is to improve dosing regimens and/or frequency of dosing which we believe will result in improved patient dosing convenience and compliance for antibiotics that have been used and trusted by physicians and patients for decades. The Company currently markets the Keflex brand of cephalexin and has received regulatory approval for MOXATAG -- the first and only once-daily amoxicillin product approved for marketing in the U.S. For more information about MiddleBrook, please visit www.middlebrookpharma.com.

The MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5864

About Almac:

The Almac Group comprises five closely integrated divisions offering a broad range of services from R&D, translational genomic services, API manufacture, product development, clinical trial supply and technology (IVRS/EDC), to commercial-scale manufacture. Almac provides services to over 600 companies including all the world leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

The company has over 2,200 employees and is headquartered in Craigavon, Northern Ireland. U.S. operations are based in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and California. Construction of the company's new $100 million North American Headquarters started in July 2008 and is expected to be completed 2010.

Almac Pharma Services is an FDA and EU approved outsourcing partner to the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries has over 30 years' experience in the development and manufacture of solid, oral dosage products. Capabilities include formulation and analytical development, clinical and commercial-scale drug product manufacture, primary and secondary packaging, EU import testing, QP release and supply chain management. To find out more about Almac visit www.almacgroup.com or contact Almac U.S. Business Development Director, Jim McGibbon at 610-671-8568.

About MOXATAG:

MOXATAG (amoxicillin extended-release) Tablets, 775mg, is a once-a-day extended-release formulation of amoxicillin for oral administration consisting of three components: one immediate-release component and two delayed-release components. The three components of MOXATAG are combined in a specific ratio to prolong the release of amoxicillin compared to immediate-release amoxicillin. MOXATAG is intended to provide a lower treatment dose, once-daily alternative to currently approved penicillin and amoxicillin regimens for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis. For more information about MOXATAG, please visit www.middlebrookpharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This announcement contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, that involve risks and uncertainties. In some cases, forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "potential," "estimate," "will," "may," "predict," "should," "could," "would" and similar expressions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this announcement. All of these forward-looking statements are based on information available to us at this time. Actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those identified in the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and elsewhere in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2008, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007, and in similar disclosures made by us from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. MiddleBrook, MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals (stylized), MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pulsys, MOXATAG, M1 (stylized), MOXATAG 1 (stylized) and Keflex are our trademarks and have been registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or are the subject of pending U.S. trademark applications. Each of the other trademarks, tradenames or services marks appearing in this document belongs to its respective holder.

CONTACT:  MiddleBrook Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
          Investor Relations/Media Contact:
          Faith Pomeroy-Ward
          817-837-1208