EXHIBIT 99.1

CONTACT
Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp.            BMC Communications/Trout Group
Paul J. Marangos                       Brad Miles, "Media," Ext. 17
David W. Nassif                        Jonathon Fassberg, "Investors," Ext. 16
760/929-9500                           (212)477-9007


                      CYPROS AND RIBOGENE IN MERGER AGREEMENT
      TWO COMPANIES TO FORM FULLY INTEGRATED PHARMACEUTICAL MARKETING, PRODUCT
                     DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING ORGANIZATION

     CARLSBAD AND HAYWARD, CA, August 5, 1999--Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp.
(AMEX: CYP) of Carlsbad, CA and RiboGene Inc. (AMEX: RBO) of Hayward, CA today
announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement to form a fully
integrated pharmaceutical marketing and late stage product development company.
The new entity will have multiple phase III product candidates, and will market
four products in the U.S. and a fifth product currently sold in Italy.  The
merger was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies.

      Cypros stockholders and optionholders will hold approximately 55% of the
fully diluted equity of the combined company and RiboGene stockholders, option
holders and warrant holders will hold approximately 45% of the fully diluted
equity.  Structurally, RiboGene will be merged with a subsidiary of Cypros and
become a wholly owned subsidiary of Cypros.  As a result of their merger, each
outstanding share of RiboGene common stock will be converted into the right to
receive approximately 1.494 shares of Cypros common stock, based on the fully
diluted capitalization of both companies as of the signing of the agreement.
The exchange ratio is subject to adjustment if the market price of Cypros common
stock is more than $2.47 or less than $1.46 as of the closing.  The final
exchange ratio would also reflect changes in the fully diluted capitalization of
the two companies through closing.

     Charles J. Casamento, Chairman, President and CEO of RiboGene, will become
Chairman and CEO of the new entity, and Paul J. Marangos, Ph.D., Chairman,
President and CEO of Cypros, will continue to serve as a Board Member and
consultant to the Company.  All members of the Boards of Directors of Cypros and
RiboGene will continue as directors of the combined entity.

     The transaction is structured to be a tax-free reorganization and will be
accounted for as a purchase.  The merger is subject to shareholder approval and
customary closing conditions and is expected to close in late 1999.  EVEREN
Securities, Inc. acted as financial advisor to Cypros and Rabobank
International acted as financial advisor to RiboGene.

     The holder of RiboGene's outstanding preferred stock would receive a new
series of Cypros voting preferred stock adjusted for the exchange ratio and
otherwise with similar terms to the existing RiboGene preferred stock.  Cypros
would assume all of RiboGene's outstanding stock options and warrants.

     On a pro forma basis (Cypros April 30, 1999 balances and RiboGene June 30,
1999 balances), the combined companies have cash, cash equivalents and
investments of




approximately $35 million and long term debt of $6 million.
RiboGene has a compensating balance arrangement with its bank, which also holds
$5 million of the $6 million of long term debt.

     Products to be marketed by the combined entity immediately following the
merger include Ethamolin-Registered Trademark-, indicated for the treatment of
esophageal ulcers, and Glofil-125 and Inulin for diagnosis and monitoring of
patients with kidney disease and Neoflo-TM- for wound care.  It is expected that
an additional burn care product, Sildaflo-TM-, will be launched in the next 12
months.  Through RiboGene's North American partner, Roberts Pharmaceutical
Corporation (AMEX: RPC), the company also plans to market Emitasol-Registered
Trademark-, an intranasal spray for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis and
chemotherapy induced, delayed onset nausea and vomiting.  The product is
entering its final Phase III clinical trial in the U.S. and is currently
marketed in Italy, under the brand name Pramidin, by Crinos Industria
Farmacobiologica S.p.A.

     Commenting on the merger, Dr. Marangos stated: "This is the right move for
both companies because it will better enable us to move forward with combined
Phase III programs and to more effectively promote our existing products.  The
merger will result in a more efficient organization better able to achieve the
goals of getting our late stage drugs to market and building the sales of our
existing products.  Chuck Casamento's previous successes at Interneuron and
Genzyme should enable the Company to achieve these goals."

     "By combining the marketed products, sales force, late-stage development
products and manufacturing capabilities of Cypros with RiboGene's strong balance
sheet and its Phase III product, Emitasol-Registered Trademark-, the merger
results in a specialty pharmaceutical company with a pipeline of products,"
commented Mr. Casamento.  "Consolidation in our industry has been the subject of
much discussion as of late, without much actually happening.  Instead of just
talking about it, RiboGene and Cypros are combining forces to build a bigger and
better company."

     Cypros Pharmaceutical Corporation develops cytoprotective drugs to treat
ischemic disorders and markets acute care hospital based products.  The
Company has one multi-center Phase III program in place (Cordox-TM-) in
sickle cell anemia), two Phase II programs (Cordox-TM-) in bypass surgery and
Ceresine-TM- in head injury), and has four acute care products on the market.

     RiboGene is a drug discovery company focused on the treatment of
infectious diseases.  The Company also has a late stage product,
Emitasol-Registered Trademark-, under development for diabetic gastroparesis
and chemotherapy-induced delayed onset nausea and vomiting.  RiboGene has
alliances with Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Roberts Pharmaceutical
Corporation, ArQule, Inc., and EnzyMed.

     Note: Except for the historical information contained herein, this press
release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties.  Such statements are subject to certain factors which may cause
the companies' results to differ.  Factors that may cause such differences
include, but are not limited to, the occurrence or non-occurrence of required
closing conditions set forth in the definitive merger agreement, stock price
movements, the combined company's ability to integrate the combined businesses,
the combined company's need for additional funding, uncertainties regarding the
combined company's intellectual property and other research, development,
marketing and regulatory risks as well as the risks discussed in Cypros' Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1998 and the Risk Factor
section of Cypros' Registration Statement (No. 333-25661), RiboGene's




Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 and
other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The risk
factors and other information contained in these documents should be
considered in evaluating Cypros' and RiboGene's prospects and future
financial performance.