RALEIGH, N.C.–BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDSI) announced the commercial launch of BREAKYL (fentanyl buccal film) in the European Union. BDSI’s commercial partner for BREAKYL in the E.U. is Meda. Under the terms of its E.U. agreement with Meda, BDSI will now receive a final milestone payment of $2.5 million.  BDSI will also receive a royalty on net sales of BREAKYL in the E.U. BREAKYL is being launched in the E.U. by Meda and will be available for sale in a selected number of countries in 2012, including Germany.  BREAKYL will thereafter be launched in most E.U. countries throughout 2013.

BREAKYL is commercialized in the U.S. as ONSOLIS (fentanyl buccal soluble film) by Meda’s U.S. affiliate, Meda Pharmaceuticals.  BREAKYL and ONSOLIS are both indicated for the management of breakthrough pain in patients with cancer, 18 years of age and older, who are already receiving and who are tolerant to opioid therapy for their underlying persistent cancer pain.

BREAKYL will compete in the market for transmucosal fentanyl products, which has grown substantially in the E.U. in recent years following the availability of new products, to over $200 million, which is an increase of 34% over the prior year.

About BioDelivery Sciences International

BioDelivery Sciences International (NASDAQ: BDSI) is a specialty pharmaceutical company that is leveraging its novel and proprietary patented drug delivery technologies to develop and commercialize, either on its own or in partnerships with third parties, new applications of proven therapeutics.  BDSI is focusing on developing products to meet unmet patient needs in the areas of pain management and addiction.  BDSI’s pain franchise consists of two products utilizing the patented BEMA technology.  ONSOLIS (fentanyl buccal soluble film) is approved in the U.S., Canada, and the E.U. (where it is marketed as BREAKYL), for the management of breakthrough pain in opioid tolerant, adult patients with cancer.  The commercial rights are licensed to Meda for all territories worldwide except for Taiwan (TTY Biopharm) and South Korea (Kunwha Pharmaceutical Co.).  BDSI’s second pain product, BEMA Buprenorphine, is being developed for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain, and BNX is in development in a high dose formulation of buprenorphine combined with naloxone for the treatment of opioid dependence.  BEMA Buprenorphine for chronic pain is licensed on a worldwide basis to Endo.  BDSI’s headquarters is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.  For more information, visit www.bdsi.com.

BDSI® and BEMA® are registered trademarks of BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.  ONSOLIS® is a registered trademark of Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  BREAKYL™  is registered trademark of Meda Pharma GmbH & Co. KG.