Biotie Therapies - Company Announcement

US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to Conduct Clinical Study on Biotie's Nepicastat in Cocaine Dependence

BIOTIE THERAPIES CORP.    STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE    13 December  2011 at 9.00
a.m.

US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to Conduct Clinical Study on Biotie's
Nepicastat in Cocaine Dependence

· Ongoing clinical study on nepicastat in post-traumatic stress disorder, funded
and conducted by US Department of Defense, expected to complete in H2 2012

Biotie Therapies announced today that it has signed a Collaborative Research and
Development Agreement  with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the
US National Institutes of Health.

Under the agreement, NIDA and Biotie will investigate the safety and efficacy of
Biotie's nepicastat (SYN117) in the treatment of cocaine dependence. NIDA will
fund the conduct of a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, lasting
11 weeks, in 180 treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent subjects using nepicastat
supplied by Biotie. The study will be conducted at approximately 12 US clinics
specializing in the treatment of drug dependence."We are pleased to be working with NIDA and some of the world's most renowned
investigators of treatments for cocaine dependence," said Timo Veromaa, Chief
Executive Officer of Biotie. "There is currently no approved treatment for
cocaine dependence, a condition which exacts a heavy toll on individuals, their
families and society as a whole."

Biotie and NIDA have previously collaborated on preclinical studies evaluating
potential pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between nepicastat
and drugs of abuse. Biotie retains rights to nepicastat and will be able to use
data from studies conducted with NIDA to support future potential regulatory
submissions.

The trial is expected to start in H1 2012 and take approximately two years to
complete.

In Turku, 13 December 2011

Biotie Therapies Corp.

Timo Veromaa
President and CEO

For further information, please contact:
Virve Nurmi, Investor Relations Manager
tel. +358 2 274 8911, e-mail: virve.nurmi@biotie.com

Media contact:
Julie Walters, Tudor Reilly
Office: +44 (0) 20 7034 7610
Mobile +44 (0) 775 362 6967

About nepicastat (SYN117)

Nepicastat is an orally administered, potent and selective inhibitor of the
enzyme dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH). The compound has demonstrated potential as
a treatment for cocaine dependence and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Like many other addictions, cocaine dependence is driven by dysregulation in the
dopamine-reward system. Inhibition of DBH by nepicastat increases levels of
dopamine, which may reduce craving for cocaine, and reduces the levels of
norepinephrine, which may decrease the pleasurable responses to cocaine and the
potential for stress-induced relapse following withdrawal.

Biotie has previously conducted a placebo-controlled Phase 2a study in non-
treatment seeking cocaine addicts. This study showed that nepicastat had a
favourable safety profile and was well tolerated when administered with
cocaine.

Nepicastat is also in a Phase 2 US Department of Defense-funded study for the
treatment of PTSD.  This is a condition with significant unmet medical need and
is becoming more prevalent in both the civilian and military communities. The
ongoing placebo-controlled, double blind trial is scheduled to enroll up to 120
patients and is now expected to complete in H2 2012, instead of 2013 as
previously announced.

SYN117 was licensed from Roche in 2007.

About Biotie

Biotie is an international biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
of innovative, clinically differentiated medicines to address unmet medical
needs primarily associated with neurological and psychiatric diseases and
selected inflammatory diseases. Biotie aims to develop treatment solutions that
will improve the lives of patients with conditions such as Parkinson's and
Alzheimer's diseases, drug dependence and inflammatory liver disease.

Biotie's highly experienced development teams in Europe and the US are focused
on efficiently delivering safety and efficacy data for the company's compounds.
For niche indications, Biotie will consider bringing products to market by
itself. For larger indications, it will seek strategic partnerships with
pharmaceutical partners for late-stage development and commercialization.
Current pharmaceutical partners include Lundbeck, Roche, UCB Pharma, and
Seikagaku.

Biotie's most advanced product, nalmefene for alcohol dependence, has completed
Phase 3 clinical development by licensing partner Lundbeck.


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