ALLERGAN ASSEMBLY INVESTORS: INVESTORS: Lisa DeFrancesco Lauren Glaser (862) 261-7152 (415) 521-3828 MEDIA: MEDIA: Mark Marmur Barbara Lindheim (862) 261-7558 (212) 584-2276 Allergan Enters Into Licensing Ag

Enters Into Licensing Agreement with Assembly Biosciences

to Obtain Worldwide Rights to Microbiome Gastrointestinal

Expands Allergan's Innovative GI Pipeline with ABI-M201 and ABI-M301, Preclinical

Compounds Targeting Ulcerative Colitis

and Crohn's Disease, as well as Future Compounds for

Irritable Bowel Syndrome --

IRELAND and INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (USA) - January 9, 2017 - Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) and Assembly Biosciences,

Inc. (NASDAQ: ASMB) today announced that Allergan has entered into a research, development, collaboration and license agreement

for the worldwide rights to Assembly's microbiome gastrointestinal (GI) development programs. The agreement provides Allergan

with worldwide rights to preclinical compounds ABI-M201 and ABI-M301, targeting ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease

(CD), as well as two additional compounds to be identified by Assembly for Irritable Bowel Syndromes (IBS); with Diarrhea (IBS-D),

with Constipation (IBS-C) or Mixed (IBS-M).

the terms of the agreement, Allergan will make an upfront payment to Assembly of $50 million for the exclusive, worldwide rights

to develop and commercialize the UC, CD and IBS compounds. Additionally, Assembly will be entitled to receive success-based development

and commercial milestone payments. Assembly is also eligible to receive tiered royalties based on net sales. Allergan and Assembly

will generally share development costs through proof-of-concept (POC) studies, and Allergan will assume all post-POC development

Assembly microbiome program consists of a fully integrated platform that includes a robust strain identification and selection

process, methods for strain isolation and growth under current Good Manufacturing Practices and a patent-pending delivery system,

GEMICEL , which allows for targeted oral delivery of live biologic and conventional therapies to the lower gastrointestinal

Microbiome -- the microbial populations that colonize the human body -- is rapidly gaining prominence in numerous fields of research

relevant to Allergan's key areas of focus, including GI disorders," said David Nicholson, Chief R&D Officer, Allergan.

"Assembly is well positioned to identify and select unique therapeutic candidates and deliver them to the optimal site in

the GI tract through a novel oral delivery system."

collaboration reinforces Allergan's commitment to building a robust portfolio through Open Science. As with most of our

agreements, we enter into partnerships which, through creative structures, leverage the expertise of our partners to potentially

deliver innovative treatments for improved patient care.

fully-integrated microbiome platform reflects Assembly's commitment as one of the leaders in the exciting new field of microbiome

therapeutics, which has the potential to address a range of diseases in entirely new ways," said Derek Small, Chief Executive

Officer of Assembly. "We are delighted to enter into this collaboration with Allergan, an innovator in GI, as we work together

to realize the potential of microbiome therapies and provide treatments to patients with serious GI disorders."

diseases of the GI tract, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are debilitating conditions that remain poorly

treated for many patients," said Martin J. Blaser, MD, Director of the New York University Human Microbiome Program. "Therapies

leveraging the microbiome may be able to address these disorders in fundamentally new ways. I am encouraged that microbiome innovators

such as Assembly and Allergan are working to convert their promising new approaches into clinically useful products to help these

transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions, including the expiration

or early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis1,2

disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's disease most commonly

affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the colon (also called the large intestine), but it may affect any part of

the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon. It is estimated that

1.6 million Americans and 2.2 million Europeans suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. The majority of patients are

diagnosed in young adulthood and these incidence rates continue to rise, which will continue to place a significant burden on

global healthcare systems.

plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a bold, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model

- Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceuticals, devices

and biologic products for patients around the world.

markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics

and dermatology, gastroenterology, women's health, urology and anti-infective therapeutic categories.

is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and developing

game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. This approach has led to Allergan building one of the broadest

development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with 70+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development.

Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together,

we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what

commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and

patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every

more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.

Assembly Biosciences

Biosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage public biotechnology company developing two innovative platform programs: an HBV program

advancing a new class of oral therapeutics for the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and a microbiome program developing

novel oral biotherapeutics designed to address diseases associated with the microbiome. Assembly's HBV program is advancing

multiple drug candidates with the aim of increasing cure rates in patients with chronic HBV. The company's microbiome program

consists of a fully integrated platform that includes a robust strain identification and selection process, methods for strain

isolation and growth under current Good Manufacturing Practices and a patent-pending delivery system, GEMICEL , which allows

for targeted oral delivery of live biologic and conventional therapies to the lower gastrointestinal tract. Assembly is developing

a robust pipeline of product candidates in multiple disease indications. For more information, visit assemblybio.com.

contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that

reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly

required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ

materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors

include, among others, the difficulty of predicting future clinical results based on prior clinical results; the timing or outcome

of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand

for Allergan's products; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic

public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 (certain of such periodic

public filings having been filed under the "Actavis plc" name). Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims

any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

information in this press release contains estimates and other forward-looking statements regarding future events, including statements

about the clinical and therapeutic potential of Assembly's development programs, its ability to receive payments from Allergan

under the collaboration agreement and plans, strategies, and intentions related to Assembly's programs. Certain forward

looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by use of forward-looking terminology such

as "developing," "potential," "projected," "positioned," "eligible" or "may."

Such forward-looking statements, which Assembly intends to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of

the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are just predictions

and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and

uncertainties include, among others: the components, timing, cost and results of clinical trials and other development activities

involving Assembly's product candidates (including those licensed to Allergan); the unpredictability of the preclinical

and clinical development of Assembly's product candidates and of the duration and results of regulatory review of those

candidates by the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities; Assembly's anticipated capital expenditures, Assembly's

estimates regarding its capital requirements, and its need for future capital; and the possible impairment of, or inability to

obtain, intellectual property rights and the costs of obtaining such rights from third parties. These and other potential risks

and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted are more fully detailed under the heading

"Risk Factors" in Assembly's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and Quarterly Report

on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is not possible for

Assembly management to predict all risks nor can Assembly assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which

any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking

statements Assembly may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances

discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated.

Except as required by law, Assembly assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result

of new information, future events or otherwise.