News Release Details

REDWOOD CITY, CA, Mar 26, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --A.P. Pharma, Inc. (OTCBB: APPA) today announced the appointment of Thomas Ottoboni, Ph.D. as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development.

"We are extremely pleased to have Tom join A.P. Pharma. His considerable expertise in drug development and drug delivery systems will make him a valuable addition to our management team," stated John B. Whelan, A.P. Pharma's president and chief executive officer.

Dr. Ottoboni was most recently Vice President of Research and Development at Talima Therapeutics, where he worked on the development of a drug delivery implant to treat onychomycosis. Prior to Talima, Dr. Ottoboni served as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations at Point Biomedical, where he developed several imaging and drug delivery systems. Previously, Dr. Ottoboni served as Manager of Systems Development and Drug Delivery Research for InSite Vision, where he developed ophthalmic pharmaceutical delivery systems and also served as Director of Drug Delivery at Vitaphore. Dr. Ottoboni is an inventor on more than 19 US patents in organic and macromolecular chemistry and received a B.S. degree in Chemistry as well as a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

A.P. Pharma also announced today that John Barr, Ph.D. will be resigning from his position as Senior Vice President of Research and Development, effective March 31, 2012, but will continue to work with the Company as a consultant.

About A.P. Pharma

A.P. Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing products using its proprietary Biochronomer(TM) polymer-based drug delivery technology. The Company's primary focus is on its lead product, APF530, for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). A.P. Pharma received a Complete Response Letter on the APF530 New Drug Application (NDA) and is targeting the resubmission of the NDA for mid-2012. The Company has additional research and development programs that utilize its bioerodible, injectable and implantable drug delivery systems. For further information, please visit the Company's web site at www.appharma.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with capital resources and liquidity, timely development and regulatory approval of product candidates, satisfactory completion of clinical studies, progress in research and development programs, launch and acceptance of new products and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution investors that forward-looking statements reflect our analysis only on their stated date. We do not intend to update them except as required by law.

Editor's Note: A.P. Pharma today announced two additional press releases, which can be accessed on the Company's website at www.appharma.com. These releases included:

--  APF530 Thorough QT Study Showed No Effect on Cardiac Repolarization
--  A.P. Pharma Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Financial
    Results and Provides Update on APF530

Contacts
Investor Relations Contact:
Michael Rice
Office Phone: (646) 597-6979
Mobile Phone: (917) 282-3242
Email: mrice@lifesciadvisors.com
and
Corporate Contact:
John B. Whelan
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
Office Phone: 650-366-2626

SOURCE: A.P. Pharma, Inc.

mailto:mrice@lifesciadvisors.com