Angstrom Pharmaceuticals Receives Patent to Cover A6 -- A Drug Possessing Robust Pre-Clinical Activity in Animal Models of Human Breast and Brain Cancer.

Business Editors/Health and Medical Writers

Patent Applies to Broad Class of Peptides and Peptidomimetics with

Antiangiogenic and Antimetastatic Activity

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 25, 2000

Angstrom Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that the company has been awarded a second patent for its cancer technology platform.

This patent, U.S. Patent No. 5,994,309, &uot;Anti-invasive and Anti-angiogenic Compositions and Methods,&uot; covers a broad class of peptides and peptidomimetic derivatives centered on A6. A6 is a short peptide derived from the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) -- a gene product that is active at the invasive edge of virtually all solid tumors including breast, prostate, colon, and lung, but is rarely found in normal tissue. A6 modulates the uPA system to produce anti-invasive, antiangiogenic, and antimetastatic effects.

A6 has shown robust preclinical activity in models of human breast cancer and human brain cancer, studies that will shortly appear in the scientific literature. Remarkably, A6 elicits no evident toxicity in mice when given at a dose far higher than the therapeutic dose. Angstrom is currently preparing to enter A6 into Phase I clinical trial to test its potential in the treatment of metastatic cancer, a serious complication of the disease where it spreads to other parts of the body.

&uot;Once again our technological leadership and ability to innovate in the uPA system has been recognized following stringent review,&uot; said Terence R. Jones, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Angstrom. &uot;This patent covers A6 and a broad range of peptides and other related derivatives. Our granted claims are of major value to shareholders since Angstrom now controls the manufacture of these compounds, their sale, and their use.&uot;

This patent is the second to issue from a series of applications that Angstrom has filed on the uPA system both in the U.S. and around the world to cover these and other compounds and their uses. In November 1999, Angstrom announced that A6 in combination with Tamoxifen, a mainstay of therapy for malignant breast cancer, showed a greater reduction of breast tumor growth in vivo than either drug could achieve when used alone. Furthermore, the combination completely inhibited the growth of macroscopic metastases.

Angstrom Pharmaceuticals (www.angstrominc.com) was formed in 1996 to add a new dimension to drug discovery. It is committed to discovering drugs that block extracellular cytokine-receptor interactions responsible for &uot;switching on&uot; disease processes. The company has chosen cancer as its first focus and currently has several programs in the area of metastasis and angiogenesis. Angstrom recently announced an exclusive worldwide sales agreement with Calbiochem-Novabiochem Corp. of San Diego for the distribution of its proprietary uPA and uPAR research reagents in over 74 countries.

When used in this report, the words &uot;evident&uot; and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated, or implied. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include an inability to duplicate in the clinic results demonstrated in preclinical studies, timely development of any potential products that can be shown to be safe and effective, receiving necessary regulatory approvals, difficulties in manufacturing any of the company's potential products and the risk factors set forth from time to time in a prospectus pursuant to which Angstrom is offering securities. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.