Antares Pharma, Inc. (NYSE Amex:AIS), a leader in self-injection drug delivery technology, today announced the latest advancement in its proprietary line of VIBEX™ auto-injectors.

Antares’ new VIBEX QS auto-injector platform offers a dose capacity of 1 mL and greater in a compact design. VIBEX QS achieves this advance by incorporating a novel triggering mechanism and space-saving spring configuration. The new design also accommodates fast injection of highly-viscous drug products that stall less-powerful conventional auto-injectors.

VIBEX QS is designed to enhance the patient experience with self-administered parenteral drugs including most biological agents. Of the $50 billion U.S. market for biological drugs in 2009, we estimate that self-administered products accounted for over half the total. Biological drugs in particular face new competitive threats as biosimilar drugs are approved in Europe and the U.S. Our patented VIBEX delivery systems address self-injectable product manufacturers’ growing needs for product differentiation strategies especially as differences between the active ingredients of competing products become less apparent. Many self-injectable drugs currently marketed and in clinical development are formulated to be administered in a 1 mL dose volume, which the new VIBEX QS accommodates.

For patients, the new VIBEX QS design offers a compact device easily carried in a pocket or small handbag. “Conventional auto-injector designs typically have been inadequately powered or would be unwieldy to deliver larger dose volumes within a brief time that would be acceptable to most patients,” stated Dr. Peter Sadowski, Antares’ Senior Vice President and General Manager, Parenteral Products Division. “Our approach optimizes VIBEX performance for the attributes most critical to patient acceptance—speed, comfort and discretion. We surveyed more than 20 manufacturers of biological products, and every one of them expects their reliance on injection devices, as part of their product configurations, will increase in the future to remain competitive in the marketplace. That expectation is being driven by higher expectations patients have on the self-injection experience.”

About VIBEX™

VIBEX employs a coil-spring power source to rapidly deliver the prescribed medication. This spring is combined with a tiny hidden needle in a disposable, single-use injection system compatible with conventional syringes. Our VIBEX system is designed to economically provide highly reliable subcutaneous injections comfortably and conveniently in conjunction with the enhanced safety of an integrated shielded needle. After use, the device can be disposed of without the typical “sharps” disposal concerns. Antares and its development partners have successfully tested the device in patient preference and bioavailability tests with a variety of injectable drugs. We continue to explore product extensions including multiple dose and variable dose applications as well as integrated reconstitution systems for lyophilized drugs.

About Antares Pharma

Antares Pharma focuses on self-injection pharmaceutical products and topical gel-based medicines. The Company's subcutaneous and intramuscular injection technology platforms include VIBEX disposable pressure-assisted auto injectors, ValeoTM/VisionTM reusable needle-free injectors, and disposable multi-use pen injectors. In the injector area, Antares Pharma has a multi-product deal with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd that includes Tev-Tropin® human growth hormone and a partnership with Ferring Pharmaceuticals. In the gel-based area, the Company's lead product candidate is Anturol®, an oxybutynin ATD™ gel that has completed Phase 3 studies for the treatment of OAB (overactive bladder). Antares also has a partnership with BioSante that includes LibiGel® (transdermal testosterone gel) in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), and Elestrin® (estradiol gel) indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause, and currently marketed in the U.S. Antares Pharma has corporate headquarters in Ewing, New Jersey, with subsidiaries performing research, development and product commercialization activities in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Muttenz, Switzerland.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include statements related to the Company’s expectations regarding future reliance on injection devices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, difficulties or delays in the manufacture and/or approval of product configurations that include injection devices and slower than expected acceptance of injection devices by patients and medical providers. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements is contained in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and in the Company's other periodic reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company on the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as required by law.