Aethlon Medical To Explore Merger Opportunities.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

LA JOLLA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2002

Aethlon Medical Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) disclosed today that it will explore opportunities to merge or potentially sell the company to a third party organization.

Aethlon's Chairman and CEO, James A. Joyce stated, "Our viral treatment technology has never been more advanced, and the need for new treatment options in both the HIV and Hepatitis C markets has never been greater. Taking these factors into consideration, we will explore other avenues with the intention of enhancing value for our shareholders. We will initiate discussions with targeted organizations that have the infrastructure and capital resources to expedite the commercialization of our treatment technology."

Aethlon also announced that it has executed a Merger & Acquisition Consulting Agreement with Griffin Securities Inc. of New York City.

"The team at Griffin is certainly respected for its knowledge of the HIV-AIDS marketplace, and will help us to expand the field of qualified candidates," stated Joyce.

Aethlon further reinforced that it is only exploring potential opportunities at this time, and that it cannot assure that it will enter into any agreement to merge or sell the company.

About Aethlon Medical

Aethlon Medical develops therapeutic devices that treat HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis-C, and other infectious diseases. In pre-clinical testing, Aethlon's lead product, AEMD-45 removed 55% of HIV from human blood in three hours and in excess of 85% in 12 hours. The AEMD-45 therapeutic device, like all product offerings from Aethlon Medical, is developed from an expansive platform technology known as the Hemopurifier(TM), which employs a proprietary method to increase the capability of FDA cleared artificial kidneys (dialysis cartridges) to remove targeted intoxicants from the blood. In the case of AEMD-45, dialysis cartridges are modified to mimic the immune system's response to clear infectious virus from circulation before healthy cells are infected. AEMD-45 is designed to fill the urgent need for new treatments that are effective in reducing viral load, decrease the likelihood of treatment resistance, and treat without the toxic side-effects associated with AIDS drugs. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.AethlonMedical.com.

Certain of the statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the company's ability to raise capital when needed, the company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the ability of the company to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals permitting the sale of its products, the company's ability to manufacture its products and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.