Altea Receives New Patents that Encompass Mechanical Microporation of Skin, and Flux Enhancement through Micropores.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

ATLANTA--(BW HealthWire)--May 16, 2001

Altea Wednesday announced the issuance of two new patents enhancing its proprietary position in drug delivery.

U.S. patent No. 6,183,434, entitled "Multiple Mechanical Microporation of Skin or Mucosa," issued Feb. 6, 2001, encompasses mechanical methods and devices for forming tiny openings in the skin to facilitate the delivery of a substance or withdrawal of an analyte.

U.S. patent No. 6,173,202, "Method and Apparatus for Enhancing Flux Rates of a Fluid in a Microporated Biological Tissue," issued Jan. 9, 2001, encompasses delivering an enhancer to increase the flux of a substance through micropores in a tissue.

Altea's patented MicroPor(TM) technology creates microscopic pores in the outermost dead layer of skin or in other tissues such as mucosa, opening tiny pathways to access the underlying cells and microcirculation.

Altea has demonstrated delivery of physiologically relevant doses of peptides and proteins in pilot clinical studies. These studies have included insulin, parathyroid hormone (1-34), interferon, other macromolecules larger than 40,000 daltons, and small molecules such as lidocaine.

This unique system enables needleless infusion of biotechnology products with delivery profiles that can be tailored as desired for different applications, e.g., a steady infusion of the drug, a bolus or pulsatile delivery, or a combination of basal plus on-demand bolus as required.

This technology enables convenient, controllable transdermal delivery of macromolecular drugs, which is not possible with conventional transdermal systems.

"We are very pleased to receive these two important new patents," stated Deborah Eppstein, Ph.D., Altea's chairman and chief executive officer. "These patents extend Altea's ability to broadly protect our technology platforms, with claims covering both devices and methods involving microporation of skin or other tissues.

"We now have issued patents that cover aspects of microporation by multiple methods, including mechanical devices, such as an array of microneedles or blades, the use of lasers and other thermal vaporization techniques.

"We believe this places us in an excellent position to further the commercial development of both biotechnology and traditional pharmaceutical products in this exciting field of non-invasive drug delivery."

Altea is a family of privately held companies developing the MicroPor(TM) technology for drug delivery applications.

These companies include Altea Genomics, developing MicroPor(TM) technology for vaccines and gene therapy; and Altea Development Corp., developing MicroPor(TM) products for peptides and proteins, as well as small molecules such as pain medications that require rapid and on-demand delivery.

Altea Genomics has a joint venture with Elan Corp. that is developing selected products, including several undisclosed DNA vaccines. Altea Development is evaluating an undisclosed recombinant protein with Novartis.

The non-invasive monitoring applications of the MicroPor(TM) technology are licensed to SpectRx Inc. (Nasdaq: SPRX), who is developing the glucose monitoring products with Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT). For more information, please visit our Web site at www.alteatech.com.

Note Regarding Projections and Forward-looking Statements

Statements in this release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, including Altea's beliefs, expectations, hopes, or intentions regarding the future. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to Altea as of such date.