EXHIBIT 99.2




CONTACTS:

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc.                        Noonan/Russo Communications
Jennifer LaVin                                      Renee Connolly - media
Senior Director, Corporate Communications           (212) 696-4455 ext. 227
(617) 576-4258                                      renee@noonanrusso.com
jlavin@cubist.com

          CUBIST PHARMACEUTICALS ANNOUNCES ISSUANCE OF PATENT COVERING
                        ORAL FORMULATIONS OF CEFTRIAXONE

   CUBIST EXPECTS TO CONDUCT PROOF-OF-PRINCIPLE STUDIES IN MAN BY END OF 2001

Cambridge, MA, June 19, 2001 -- Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBST)
today announced the issuance by the United States Patent and Trademark Office of
patent number 6,248,360, entitled "Complexes to Improve Oral Absorption of
Poorly Absorbable Antibiotics." The patent, assigned to International Health
Management Associates, Inc. (IHMA), covers oral formulations of multiple
antibiotics, including ceftriaxone, to which Cubist licensed exclusive rights in
late 2000. At that time, Cubist acquired rights from IHMA to negotiate for
several other oral antibiotics as well.

In conjunction with the patent issuance, Cubist announced today that it had
achieved clinically relevant systemic levels of ceftriaxone delivered
intraduodenally, or directly to the small intestine, in non-human primates.
These data confirm earlier studies performed in rodents. Cubist also announced
today that it has now optimized formulations of oral ceftriaxone for use in
proof-of-principle studies in man, expected to commence by the end of 2001.

Hoffmann-La Roche's Rocephin(R) (intravenous ceftriaxone) had sales of over $1
billion in 2000. Intravenous ceftriaxone has been successfully and safely
prescribed for over 15 years in both adults and children. The drug is a
third-generation cephalosporin that has demonstrated a broad spectrum of
bactericidal activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These
organisms are responsible for the majority of community-based infections, which
include upper and lower respiratory tract infections (including otitis media,
sinusitis, bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia) and skin and soft tissue
infections. These infections result in nearly 80 million treated patients
annually in the United States.

Third generation cephalosporins, although effective against some of the more
resistant bacteria, are normally poorly absorbed through the mucosal membrane of
the intestines, and thus have difficulty reaching the bloodstream systemically.
As a result, their use has been predominantly restricted to intravenous use.
This newly issued patent protects technology that facilitates the systemic
absorption of difficult-to-absorb antibiotics.




Importantly, all of the components used to facilitate transport across the
intestinal lining are considered safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
and appear on the agency's GRAS list (substances Generally Recognized As Safe).

To date, ceftriaxone has been primarily used to treat hospital in-patients due
to the lack of an oral version. If successfully developed, Cubist believes that
an oral formulation could greatly expand the utility and revenue potential of
ceftriaxone through community-based prescribing. In addition, the Company
believes oral ceftriaxone could also be used for the continuation of parenteral
antibiotic therapy (step-down therapy). Step-down therapy provides multiple
benefits: convenience and cost savings of an oral therapy versus parenteral
therapy, potential earlier hospital discharge and associated healthcare cost
savings, and increased physician confidence in an optimal therapeutic outcome
given that a discharged patient is receiving the same therapy taken
intravenously in the hospital setting.

Scott M. Rocklage, Ph.D., Cubist's Chairman and CEO commented, "We are very
pleased to be able to announce positive progress on our preclinical development
of oral ceftriaxone. From a development standpoint, we are hopeful that the
historic safety of both ceftriaxone and the substances used to facilitate
transport across the intestinal lining will translate into an accelerated
development timeline for our oral ceftriaxone program. From a commercial
standpoint, we believe the large potential market for oral ceftriaxone
represents significant potential value to Cubist."

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on becoming a global leader in the
research, development and commercialization of novel antimicrobial drugs to
combat serious and life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. Cubist is
evaluating the safety and efficacy of Cidecin(TM) (daptomycin for injection) in
the EDGE(TM) (Evaluation of Daptomycin against Gram-positive Entities) clinical
trial program and has broadened its pipeline to include multiple pre-clinical
drug candidates. The Company is engaged in strategic partnerships with Novartis
Pharma AG and Merck & Co for the discovery and development of novel
antiinfectives and with Gilead Sciences for the commercialization of daptomycin
in Europe. Cubist is headquartered in Cambridge, MA and has operations in
Vancouver, BC, Canada and Slough, UK.

CUBIST SAFEHARBOR STATEMENT
STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACT MAY BE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND
SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, THAT ARE SUBJECT TO A
VARIETY OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT
COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED OR
SUGGESTED IN ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MADE BY THE COMPANY. THESE FACTORS
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: (i) THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETE PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING PRE-CLINICAL AND CLINICAL
STUDIES AND COMMERCIALIZATION; (ii) THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO OBTAIN REQUIRED
GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS; (iii) THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND/OR MAINTAIN
MANUFACTURING, SALES, DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING PARTNERS; AND (iv) THE
COMPANY'S ABILITY





TO DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE ITS PRODUCTS BEFORE ITS COMPETITORS. ADDITIONAL
FACTORS THAT WOULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
PROJECTED OR SUGGESTED IN ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE CONTAINED IN THE
COMPANY'S FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING THOSE
FACTORS DISCUSSED UNDER THE CAPTION "RISK FACTORS" IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL
REPORT ON FORM 10-K FILED ON APRIL 2, 2001.



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        Additional information can be found at the Company's web site at
                    www.cubist.com or at www.noonanrusso.com.