Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release:                          Company Contact:
---------------------                           ---------------
July 16, 2003                                   Robert Ashley
                                                Senior Vice President
                                                (215) 579-7388

                                                Investor Relations:
                                                Lisa M. Wilson
                                                In-Site Communications
                                                (212) 759-3929


             CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Files and Serves Preliminary
            Injunction in Lawsuit with Mutual Pharmaceutical Company


Newtown,  PA, July 16, 2003 - CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. (Nasdaq:  CGPI)
today announced that it has filed and served a motion for preliminary injunction
in the District  Court for the Eastern  District of New York in connection  with
its patent infringement  litigation against United Research Laboratories/ Mutual
Pharmaceutical  Company ("Mutual").  CollaGenex previously announced that it had
served a complaint in the same Court seeking to prevent Mutual from  introducing
a 20mg tablet of doxycycline hyclate into the market in the United States.

     CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.  is a specialty  pharmaceutical  company
currently  focused on providing  innovative  medical therapies to the dental and
dermatology markets.  Currently,  the Company's  115-person  professional dental
pharmaceutical  sales  force  markets  Periostat(R),  which is  indicated  as an
adjunct to scaling and root planing for the  treatment  of adult  periodontitis.
Periostat is the first and only  pharmaceutical to treat periodontal  disease by
inhibiting  the  enzymes  that  destroy  periodontal  support  tissues,  and  by
enhancing bone protein synthesis.

     The sales force also promotes  Pandel(R),  a patented,  mid-potency topical
corticosteroid that is indicated for the relief of mild-to-moderate inflammatory
disorders of the skin,  such as atopic  dermatitis  and psoriasis;  Vioxx(R),  a
Merck & Co. drug that  CollaGenex  co-promotes for the treatment of acute dental
pain;  Denavir(R),  a Novartis Group prescription  anti-viral medication for the
treatment  of cold sores;  Sirius  Laboratories'  AVAR(TM)  product line for the
topical  control  of acne  vulgaris,  rosacea  and  seborrheic  dermatitis;  and
Atridox(R), Atrisorb(R) FreeFlow(TM) and Atrisorb-D FreeFlow, Atrix Laboratories
Inc.'s products for the treatment of adult periodontitis.




     Research  has shown that certain  unique  properties  of the  tetracyclines
discovered  during the  development  of  Periostat  may be  applicable  to other
diseases  involving  inflammation  and/or  destruction of the body's  connective
tissues,  including acne,  rosacea,  meibomianitis and cancer metastasis,  among
others. CollaGenex is further evaluating Periostat, as well as the new IMPACS(R)
compounds,  to assess whether they are safe and effective in these applications.
In addition,  CollaGenex has licensed the Restoraderm(TM)  technology, a unique,
proprietary  dermal drug delivery system, in order to develop a range of topical
dermatological products with enhanced pharmacologic and cosmetic properties.

     To receive additional information on the Company, please visit our Web site
at www.collagenex.com, which does not form part of this press release.

     This press release contains  forward-looking  statements within the meaning
of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors
are cautioned that  forward-looking  statements involve risks and uncertainties,
which may affect the Company's business and prospects. The Company's business of
selling, marketing and developing pharmaceutical products is subject to a number
of significant  risks,  including  risks relating to the  implementation  of the
Company's sales and marketing plans for Periostat(R) and other products that the
Company markets,  the outcome and consequences of the patent litigation  against
West-ward  and Mutual and the outcome of litigation  initiated by Mutual,  risks
that the FDA will approve  generic  products,  such as  West-ward's  or Mutual's
products,  that will  compete  with and limit the  market for  Periostat,  risks
inherent  in  research  and  development   activities,   risks  associated  with
conducting business in a highly regulated  environment and uncertainty  relating
to clinical  trials of  products  under  development,  all as  discussed  in the
Company's periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Periostat(R),   IMPACS(R)  and  Metastat(R)  are  registered   trademarks,   and
Restoraderm(TM) is a trademark, of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

All other trade  names,  trademarks  or service  marks are the property of their
respective owners and are not the property of CollaGenex  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.
or any of our subsidiaries.

Pandel(R)is a trademark of Taisho Pharmaceuticals.
VIOXX(R)is a trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.
Denavir(R) is a registered trademark of Novartis Consumer Health, Inc.
AVAR(TM) is a trademark of Sirius Laboratories, Inc.




Atridox(R) and Atrisorb(R) are registered trademarks, and FreeFlow(TM) is a
trademark, of Atrix Laboratories, Inc.

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