InSite Vision Names Timothy Ruane Chief Executive Officer

InSite Vision Incorporated (OTCBB:INSV), a company developing novel ophthalmic therapeutics, has appointed Timothy Ruane as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and elected Mr. Ruane to its Board of Directors, effective December 1, 2010. Louis Drapeau, InSite Vision’s interim Chief Executive Officer, will continue to serve in his role as the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Ruane, age 47, is a dedicated pharmaceutical executive who most recently led the transformation of Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a publicly-traded company, into a leader in the development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based pharmaceuticals. With more than 24 years experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, Mr. Ruane has successfully partnered a significant number of therapeutic products and brings strong skills in business development, commercial operations, marketing, as well as public market expertise.

"I am thrilled to join InSite Vision at this important juncture as we advance several important ophthalmic therapeutics through clinical development. Leveraging the late-stage pipeline of innovative product candidates created by the existing InSite team, there is a tremendous opportunity to build value in the company,” stated Mr. Ruane. "I believe that InSite's pipeline is undervalued by the market today, and look forward to working with management and the Board of Directors to drive sustainable shareholder value.”

Evan Melrose, M.D., Chairman of the InSite Vision Board of Directors, stated, "Tim has a great deal of experience that will greatly benefit InSite Vision, having held important leadership roles in a variety of large and small pharmaceutical companies. We believe his meaningful experience in corporate partnerships and commercial operations will assist in unlocking value contained within the InSite product pipeline. We are pleased he has joined the company at this important stage of InSite’s growth.”

Mr. Ruane served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation and INEX Pharmaceuticals Corporation (which spun-out Tekmira in 2007) from 2005 until June 2008. Under his leadership, the company closed a four-party transaction to create a leader in the siRNA field, implemented a global licensing agreement to enable systemic RNAi-based therapies, and successfully partnered three liposomal chemotherapy products. From 2004 to 2005, Mr. Ruane was Senior Vice President of Corporate Development with INEX. Prior to INEX, he served as a senior vice president at ILEX Oncology responsible for business management; he was Director of Oncology for North and South America for Pharmacia Corporation; and was Director of Marketing at Immunex Corporation. Mr. Ruane has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from Wake Forest University and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Washington.

About InSite Vision

InSite Vision is committed to advancing new and superior ophthalmologic products for unmet eye care needs. The company’s product portfolio utilizes InSite Vision’s proven DuraSite^® bioadhesive polymer core technology, an innovative platform that extends the duration of drug retention on the surface of the eye, thereby reducing frequency of treatment and improving the efficacy of topically delivered drugs. The DuraSite platform is currently leveraged in two commercial products for the treatment of bacterial eye infections, AzaSite^® (azithromycin ophthalmic solution) 1%, marketed in the U.S. by Inspire Pharmaceuticals, and Besivance^™ (besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension) 0.6%, marketed by InSite Vision’s licensee Bausch & Lomb and their partner Pfizer Inc. InSite Vision’s clinical-stage ophthalmic product pipeline includes ISV-502 and ISV-305 for the treatment of eye infections, and ISV-303 for pain and swelling associated with ocular surgery. For further information on InSite Vision, please visit www.insitevision.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to InSite’s potential future growth and the value of its product candidates, including those set forth in Mr. Ruane’s and Dr. Melrose’s quotes. Such statements entail a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: InSite's reliance on third parties for the commercialization of its products including Inspire, Pfizer and Bausch & Lomb; the ability of InSite to enter into corporate collaborations for its product candidates; InSite’s ability to effectively pursue its strategic options and to negotiate favorable terms with respect thereto; InSite’s ability to effectively design and conduct clinical trials for ISV-502, ISV-305 and ISV-303 and the results thereof; InSite's ability to expand its technology platform to include additional indications; InSite's ability to compete effectively, either alone or through its partners, with other companies offering competing products or treatments; InSite's ability to maintain and develop additional collaborations and commercial agreements with corporate partners, including those with respect to AzaSite; InSite's ability and willingness to commence additional clinical trials with respect to ISV-502 and InSite's various other product candidates and the results of such trials; its ability to adequately protect its intellectual property and to be free to operate with regard to the intellectual property of others and determinations of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office regarding same; and determinations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Reference is made to the discussion of these and other risk factors detailed in InSite Vision's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in such reports. Any forward-looking statements or projections are based on the limited information currently available to InSite Vision, which is subject to change. Although any such forward-looking statements or projections and the factors influencing them will likely change, InSite Vision undertakes no obligation to update the information. Such information speaks only as of the date of its release. Actual events or results could differ materially and one should not assume that the information provided in this release is still valid at any later date.