Altachem Pharma Ltd. Establishes A Drug Development Lab And Attracts GMP Manufacturing And Formulation Experts.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

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EDMONTON, Alberta--(BW HealthWire)--April 18, 2002

Mr. Warren Jackson, President and CEO of Altachem Pharma Ltd. (CDNX: AAF), is pleased to announce the addition of more than 30 years of drug development expertise to the Drug Development Team. The positive advancement of Altachem's drug technologies now require the addition of Dr. Selvaraj Naicker and Mr. Thomas Woo who will both be instrumental in moving Altachem's drug candidates from preclinical stage through human clinical trials.

As the Senior Vice President of Drug Development, Dr. Naicker's focus will be on drug development and the large scale synthesis and GMP manufacturing of Altachem's drug candidates. Prior to joining Altachem, Dr. Naicker was the Vice President of Drug Development with Isotechnika Inc. During his six year period at Isotechnika, Dr. Naicker co-invented and helped develop several drug products, some of which are currently in various phases of human clinical trials. Dr. Naicker's biotechnology experience also include fives years at Biomira Inc. as Manager, Special Projects. Dr. Naicker received a Ph. D. in organic chemistry in 1980 from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India and has published more than 25 papers in peer reviewed journals and 13 patents and patent applications.

As the Vice President of Product Development, Mr. Woo will be focusing on process and formulation development for Altachem's products. Mr. Woo has been involved in successful clinical trial applications for more than six drug candidates, during his tenure at Cytovax Biotechnologies Inc., AltaRex Corp., Biomira Research Inc., and Biomira Inc. Mr. Woo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy and a Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Alberta.

Mr. Jackson comments, "The addition of Dr. Naicker and Mr. Woo to the Drug Development Team provides Altachem with the expertise required to move our drug products from preclinical status into and through human clinical trials. Having such expertise in house provides Altachem with the ability to efficiently plan and manage the various phases of drug development."

Working with Economic Development Edmonton, Altachem has leased a four thousand square foot state of the art drug development laboratory facility located in the Edmonton Research Park. This drug development lab will be used to facilitate the advancement of Altachem's products into and through clinical trials. Altachem Pharma Ltd. is a publicly traded (CDNX:AAF), Alberta-based pharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of new pharmaceutical products to enrich and prolong the lives of people. The Corporation is developing a multi-tiered, integrated approach for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and Cancer. The lead products of the Corporation are based on its two proprietary drugs: HIP, and HB. The Corporation's manufacturing facility is certified compliant with internationally recognized quality systems standards, ISO 9002:1994, ISO 13488:1996 and EN 46002:1997.

Certain information contained in this press release may be forward-looking and is subject to unknown risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove correct.

"The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of this release."