``Stem Cell Recruiter'' Nutriceuticals Break New Ground - Find New Home as Natural Products.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

MONTGOMERY, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 2002

NDC to develop a class of safe natural-occurring plant alkaloids and other nAChR agonist that stimulate adult stem cell recruitment for

potential blockbuster nonprescription drugs

Endovasc Ltd., Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ENVC) - a biotechnology company with two cardiovascular drugs approved for final FDA Phase III trials - announced today that has established a new subsidiary, Nutriceutical Development Corporation (NDC), for its potential blockbuster nicotine and/or lobeline-based nonprescription products. This will make NDC the first company to focus on stem cell recruitment-based nutriceutical, effectively differentiating the company from traditional nutriceutical companies including Wyeth (NYSE: WYE - News) and Novavax Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX - News).

According to Endovasc, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonist appears to have the amazing ability to recruit and mobilize the body's endogenous (its own) stem cells.

"We are in the process of analyzing various safe, natural plant nutriceutical that may recruit stem cells including low level (S)-nicotine Angiogenix(TM), lobeline, carbamyl, natural choline esterase inhibitors, and others. Angiogenix(TM) certainly is not the only nAChR agonist but it is the most studied and appears to be safe and effective as a therapeutic, It is used at levels far below levels generally thought to produce habituation or euphoria. It has proven very effective as a therapeutic angiogenic at microgram (one millionth of a gram) and nanogram (one billionth of a gram) levels. We hardly think these levels will produce any of the typical effects of cigarette smoking or chewing tobacco. But if during experiments, these low levels produce any negative systemic effects (typically a cigarette smoker will ingest up to 25 mg per day) we will either reduce the levels below the microgram level to nanogram levels we found almost as effective. The other option would be to switch to a similar agonist such as lobeline, which has no addictive potential. We are confident that we can avoid deleterious effects of nicotine by using levels too low to have negative systemic effects. However, when combined with natural amino acids such as L-arginine and proteins such as creatine and other high protein complexes, the synergy of these compounds could produce blockbuster nonprescription products, resulting in positive cash flow even sooner than our later stage pharmaceutical therapies because they are not subject to the FDA approval process," says Dr. David P. Summers, Chairman and CEO of Endovasc.

The current market size for U.S. nutriceutical market is estimated to be approximately $28 billion annually. And, functional beverages represent the most significant growth area in functional food market.

Endovasc recently announced that it has been completed animal experiments that demonstrated that its nicotine based ANGIOGENIX(TM) treatment stimulates growth of new blood vessels and may grow new heart tissue, These studies suggest that Angiogenix(TM) may also cause new cells to develop muscle mass and promote body fitness through stem cell recruitment.

"Development of muscle mass and body fitness alone is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. Myriad nutriceutical supplements and pharmacological medicines are used to restore, augment and repair body tissues for both aesthetic and medical purposes. For example, stroke victims with muscle dystrophy require extensive rehabilitation of muscle use during recovery in order to restore muscle mass. Fitness devotees and athletes seek to increase stamina, strength and muscle force to enhance personal appearance or performance. Our studies show that ANGIOGENIX(TM) can recruit undifferentiated progenitor cells and stem cells from the bone marrow, and cause these cells to migrate and mobilize to a specific area of the body. Some recent studies show that the body's own stem cells can engraft and become heart tissue. If so, there is no reason why other tissues could not do the same. As far as we know Endovasc - now through its Nutriceutical Development Corporation - will be the first to study the body's ability to build new muscle mass using ANGIOGENIX(TM). This may be great news to stroke victims with atrophied muscle, athletes, and to anyone hoping to replace fat with muscle," says Summers.

Endovasc's NDC subsidiary also plans to enter the $1+ billion weight-loss drug market by developing is own anti-obesity nonprescription drug for obese diabetic women. The drug will be based on Endovasc's experience with Liprostin(TM). The prescription Liprostin(TM) might be potentate when supplemented with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) the precursor to PGE-1 and omega-3 fatty acids in a nonprescription formulation. This nutraceutical could be very useful as a dietary supplement for diabetic obese women by helping them balance the "good" prostaglandins (E-1) against the "bad" (E-2). (For more on prostaglandin balance, see Barry Sears, PhD books, The Zone, and The Zone II or Andrew Stoll, MD, The Omega-3 Connection).

"We have found that PGE-1 combined with some other natural minerals and natural supplements may provide a much needed, natural solution for obesity. We believe that targeting diabetic obesity with natural Omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) and raising the ratios of good prostaglandin may result in keeping insulin within a tight zone by countering the effects of hyperinsulemia with PGE-1," continues Summers.

Endovasc focuses on taking on promising drug candidates at the end of the discovery phase and then conducting a fast track program for the technical and early clinical development phases, covering Phases I and II of the compound. Endovasc has currently two products approved for Phase III FDA human clinical trials: ANGIOGENIX(TM), a nicotine-based treatment that grows new heart vessels, and Liprostin(TM), a liposomal prostaglandin-based treatment that studies suggest will prevent restenosis (re-blockage of arteries), increase circulation, and reduce leg pain due to poor blood flow. The company's other products include biodegradable and drug-delivery stents.

Endovasc Ltd., Inc., established in 1996, is a biotechnology company focused in the area of cardiovascular disease, pioneering drug delivery technology designed to deliver and release drugs to their intended targets in an efficient and controlled manner.

The foregoing statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may not be evident at the time of this release. For more information about Endovasc, please visit http://www.endovasc.com (Investor questions and requests for materials can be submitted online.)