Exhibit 99.1

Critical Therapeutics Announces Results from Phase II Study of
Zileuton in Acne Patients

    LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2005--Critical
Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRTX) today announced that the Company's
Phase II study of ZYFLO(R) Filmtab(R) (zileuton tablets) in patients
with moderate to severe inflammatory facial acne did not show
statistical significance in its primary efficacy endpoint. The
patients receiving zileuton did show positive responses to treatment
and a trend toward significance in certain endpoints, however, the
responses did not achieve statistical significance (p less than or
equal to 0.050), as compared to the responses seen by patients
receiving placebo. In the study, zileuton was found to be safe and
well tolerated.
    The Phase II randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
involved 101 patients with moderate to severe inflammatory facial acne
who received a four-times-daily dosage of zileuton 600 mg (n=52) or
placebo (n=49) for 12 weeks. Patients were enrolled into the study at
12 sites across the United States and ranged in age from 12 to 44
years with the patient mean age being 19.2 years. The study included a
number of efficacy endpoints as measured by the change from baseline
to Week 12, such as the number of inflammatory lesions, which was the
study's primary efficacy endpoint, the number of non-inflammatory
lesions and the number of total lesions (inflammatory and
non-inflammatory).
    The patients treated with zileuton showed a mean reduction in
inflammatory lesions of 11.5, compared with a mean reduction of 9.1
lesions in the placebo group (p=0.384). This corresponds to a mean
percent decrease in inflammatory lesions of 33.5 percent in patients
treated with zileuton, compared to 26.9 percent in the placebo group.
Patients treated with zileuton showed a mean reduction in the total
number of lesions of 25.3, compared to a mean reduction of 16.4
lesions in the placebo group (p=0.085). Zileuton was well tolerated in
the study with no serious adverse events reported in patients.
Moreover, there were no zileuton-treated patients discontinued from
the study due to elevations of liver enzymes.
    The study also showed a positive trend toward significance in a
subset of patients with more severe acne (baseline inflammatory
lesions greater than or equal to 30). In these more severe patients,
those treated with zileuton (n=26) showed a mean reduction of 16.2
inflammatory lesions, compared with a mean reduction of 11.7
inflammatory lesions in the placebo group (n=24) (p=0.063). This
corresponds to a mean percent decrease in inflammatory lesions of 41.6
percent in patients treated with zileuton, compared to 26.2 percent in
the placebo group (p=0.025). The study also provided data regarding
the rapid effect of zileuton. Patients treated with zileuton showed
marginal significance in the mean reduction of total facial lesions at
Week 4 (p=0.078) and Week 8 (p=0.057).
    "We believe this small trial supports that 5-LO inhibition may be
a useful therapy in patients with moderate to severe inflammatory
acne," said Critical Therapeutics President and Chief Executive
Officer, Paul Rubin, M.D. "The relative severity of disease and size
of the patient population in this study have given us valuable
information to consider for the design of any clinical trials in acne
patients that we may decide to pursue in the future."
    The Company is continuing to analyze the data and will be working
with the investigators to further interpret the results seen in this
study. Once this analysis is complete, the Company will determine the
appropriate next steps for the development of zileuton in the
treatment of patients with acne. The Company expects to provide
further details about the study on its second quarter financial
results conference call on Thursday, August 4, 2005.

    About Acne Vulgaris

    Acne is the most common skin disorder, affecting nearly 17 million
people in the United States and resulting in 19 million prescriptions
annually. Approximately 85 percent of those with the disease are
between the ages of 12 and 24. While not a serious health threat, acne
can produce disfiguring and permanent scarring.

    About ZYFLO(R) (zileuton tablets)

    ZYFLO was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
in 1996 for the treatment of asthma in patients 12 and older. ZYFLO
blocks the activity of 5 lipoxygenase (5-LO), the enzyme chiefly
responsible for producing a range of inflammatory mediators known as
leukotrienes, which are believed to play a central role in tissue
inflammation related to asthma, acne and other diseases. Critical
Therapeutics has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA)
with the FDA to produce ZYFLO at contract manufacturing sites. Pending
approval of the sNDA, the Company expects to begin marketing ZYFLO in
the United States for asthma in the fourth quarter of 2005.

    About Critical Therapeutics

    Critical Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused
on the discovery, development and commercialization of products for
respiratory, inflammatory and critical care diseases. The Company is
developing a sales and marketing infrastructure in connection with its
in-licensed product, ZYFLO, a tablet formulation of zileuton. Critical
Therapeutics also is developing treatments directed toward the severe
inflammatory response in acute diseases and conditions that lead to
admission to the emergency room or intensive care unit, and acute
exacerbations of other chronic diseases that frequently lead to
hospitalization.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical
in nature are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the
foregoing, the words "anticipate," believe," "could," "estimate,"
intend," "may," "plan," "project," "should," "will," "would," and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to: the Company's plans to continue clinical development of
zileuton for acne; the timing and success of regulatory approval of
the Company's sNDA for ZYFLO; and the timing of the U.S. introduction
of ZYFLO for asthma. These statements are subject to numerous risks
and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ
materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking
statements can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially
from those projected as a result of various important factors,
including risks relating to: the results of preclinical and clinical
trials with respect to our products under development and whether such
results will be indicative of results obtained in later clinical
trials; the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval
of our regulatory filings; our heavy dependence on the commercial
success of ZYFLO tablets and the controlled-release formulation of
zileuton; our ability to obtain the substantial additional funding
required to conduct our research, development and commercialization
activities; our dependence on our strategic collaboration with
MedImmune, Inc.; and our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce
patent and other intellectual property protection for drug candidates
and our discoveries. These and other risks are described in greater
detail in the "Factors That May Affect Future Results" section of our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other filings that we periodically
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of
these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary
materially from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. All
forward-looking statements reflect our beliefs and expectations as of
the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing
our views as of any subsequent date. We anticipate that subsequent
events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while
we may elect to update these forward-looking statements publicly at
some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to
do so, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.

    ZYFLO(R) is a registered trademark of Critical Therapeutics, Inc.
Filmtab(R) is a registered trademark of the Abbott Group of Companies.


    CONTACT: Critical Therapeutics, Inc.
             Linda S. Lennox, 781-402-5708
             Director, Corporate Communications
             llennox@crtx.com