DURA
                                 PHARMACEUTICALS

CONTACT:    Cam L. Garner
            Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
            Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
            (619) 457-2553

        DURA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

        San Diego, CA -- May 22, 1998 -- Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq 
NNM: DURA) announced today that its Board of Directors has adopted a 
Stockholder Rights Plan in which preferred stock purchase rights will be 
distributed as a dividend at the rate of one Right for each share of Common 
Stock held as of the close of business on June 5, 1998.  

        Each Right will entitle Stockholders to buy, upon certain events, one 
one-thousandth of a share of a new series of junior participating Preferred 
Stock of the Company at an Exercise Price of $175.00.  The Rights are 
designed to guard against partial tender offers and other abusive and 
coercive tactics that might be used in an attempt to gain control of the 
Company or to deprive Stockholders of their interest in the long-term value 
of the Company.  The Rights will be exercisable only if a person or group 
acquires 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock or announces a tender 
offer the consummation of which would result in ownership by a person or 
group of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock. 

        If a person or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's 
outstanding Common Stock, or if a holder of 15% or more of the Company's 
Common Stock engages in certain self-dealing transactions or a merger 
transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and its Common 
Stock remains outstanding, then each Right not owned by such person or 
certain related parties will entitle its holder to purchase, at the Right's 
then-current exercise price, units of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock 
(or, in certain circumstances, Company Common Stock, cash, property or other 
securities of the Company) having a market value equal to twice the 
then-current exercise price.  In addition, if, after the Rights become 
exercisable, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business 
combination transaction, or sells 50% or more of its assets or earnings 
power, each Right will entitle its holder to purchase, at the Right's 
then-current price, a number of the acquiring company's common shares having 
a market value at the time of twice the Right's exercise price.

        At any time on or prior to the close of business on the first date of 
a public announcement that a person or group has acquired beneficial 
ownership of 15% or more of the Company's Common Stock, the Rights are 
redeemable for one cent per Right at the option of the Board of Directors.

                         



        The Rights are intended to enable all stockholders to realize the 
long-term value of their investment in the Company.  The Rights will not 
prevent a takeover attempt, but should encourage anyone seeking to acquire 
the Company to negotiate with the Board prior to attempting a takeover.

        The dividend distribution will be made on June 5, 1998 payable to 
stockholders of record on that date.  The Rights will expire on June 5, 2008. 
The initial distribution of Rights is not taxable to stockholders.

        Dura Pharmaceuticals is a San Diego-based developer and marketer of 
prescription pharmaceutical products for the treatment of allergies, asthma 
and related respiratory conditions, and is developing a pulmonary drug 
delivery system. Dura's mission is to be the leading pharmaceutical company 
with a focus in the high-growth U.S. respiratory market.  The Company is 
pursuing that goal through two major strategies:  (1) acquiring late-stage 
prescription pharmaceuticals and/or companies with rights to such 
pharmaceuticals for marketing to high-prescribing respiratory physicians and 
(2) developing Spiros, a proprietary dry powder pulmonary drug delivery 
system.

        Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, 
the matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking 
statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including the timely 
development of Spiros products, uncertainties in the regulatory process, 
competitive products and pricing, the ability of the Company to acquire 
products and/or companies, the ability of the Company to add qualified sales 
representatives in a timely manner, the Company's limited manufacturing 
experience, seasonality, and other risks detailed from time to time in the 
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Actual 
results may differ materially from those projected.  These forward-looking 
statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release.  
The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these 
forward-looking statements.

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