Early this morning, Novartis AG (NVS) announced that data from a two year late-stage study showed that its oral drug FTY720 (fingolimod) was significantly superior to placebo in reducing relapses and disability progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The double-blind placebo-controlled study, called FREEDOMS (FTY720 Research Evaluating Effects of Daily Oral therapy in Multiple Sclerosis), involved 1,272 patients in 22 countries and assessed the efficacy, safety and tolerability of FTY720. The study revealed that FTY720, which was well tolerated in the study, reduced the relapse rate by 54% for the 0.5 mg dose and 60% for the 1.25 mg dose compared to placebo. Furthermore, the candidate reduced disability progression by 30% for patients on 0.5 mg and 32% for those on 1.25 mg compared to placebo over the entire duration of the study, thus meeting the primary and secondary endpoints for both the doses, with ...

Energy XXI (Bermuda) Limited (EXXI) Gulf Coast, Inc. (the “Company”) today September 4, 2009 announced it has commenced an exchange offer and consent solicitation in respect of its 10% Senior Notes due 2013 (the “Senior Notes”).

The Company has commenced an offer to exchange up to $360 million principal amount outstanding Senior Notes properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) and accepted by the Company for its newly issued 16% Second Lien Junior Secured Notes due 2014 (the “Second Lien Notes”), subject to proration and reduction to $311 million principal amount of Senior Notes, depending on the aggregate principal amount of Second Lien Notes sold in a concurrent private placement.

About Energy XXI

Energy XXI is a Houston-based independent energy company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploration and production of oil and natural gas reserves in the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. The Company an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the

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