Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Executives to Convene at SRI International Innovation Forum in Tokyo; SRI Seeks to Collaborate With Japanese Companies and Regional Bioscience Clusters.

MENLO PARK, Calif. -- SRI International, an independent, nonprofit research and development organization, today announced its Tokyo office will host two half-day, invitation-only, biotechnology and pharmaceutical events on October 24 and 25, 2005. Monday, October 24 features technical biotechnology presentations and Tuesday, October 25 features executive-level presentations. The events will focus on creating strong business ties and new opportunities between SRI and Japanese biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

SRI executives and researchers Drs. Walter Moos, Rae Lyn Burke, and Jon Mirsalis will present SRI's work on drugs for cancer, the central nervous system, biologics for infectious diseases, and other biomedical projects. The presenters will also provide an overview of SRI's new Center of Excellence for Infectious Disease and Biodefense. In addition, SRI President and CEO Dr. Curt Carlson will offer an overview of the SRI Value Creation Process for the bioscience industry. SRI biotechnology and pharmaceutical experts will be available to answer questions at a special reception following these presentations.

"This forum offers biotechnology and pharmaceutical executives and professionals an opportunity to learn first-hand about SRI's leading research," said Osamu Karatsu, chief executive director, SRI Japan. "Japan's pharmaceutical industry is strong, and its biotechnology industry has grown steadily over the past five years. SRI's goal is to expand its partnerships and facilitate collaborations that will lead to many more opportunities in this important and dynamic market. We look forward to furthering the impact of cutting-edge research in Japan's regional bioscience clusters."

Event topics will include, but are not restricted to, the following presentations:

Overview of SRI International's Biosciences Division
    Speaker:    Walter H. Moos, Ph.D., Vice President
    Topics:     Operating principles, discovery and development
                portfolio, and drug discovery for the central nervous
                system and other diseases

    Drugs and Biologics for Infectious Diseases
    Speaker:    Rae Lyn Burke, Ph.D., Director, Center of Excellence
                for Infectious Disease and Biodefense
    Topics:     Novel therapeutics against Category A-C pathogens, new
                approaches to epidemic outbreaks, and development of
                new formulation and delivery methods

    Oncology Therapeutics and Development Services
    Speaker:    Jon Mirsalis, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., Managing Director,
                Division Operations, and Director, Preclinical
                Development
    Topics:     Oncology products available and under development, in
                vitro predictive models for toxicity and
                pharmacokinetics, and preclinical activities

The event is open to members of the press, who can register by sending an email to [e-mail].

About SRI's Biosciences Division

The SRI Biosciences Division is a unique organization of nearly 200 people, with all of the resources necessary to take chemical and biological research programs from "idea to IND" -- from initial discovery to the approval to start human clinical trials. The Biosciences Division performs basic research on disease mechanisms, like an academic institution; drug discovery and the development of biologics, like a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company; and full-service preclinical contract research and development, like a CRO (contract research organization).

To date, SRI has developed nine drugs internally that have entered clinical trials, with several more currently undergoing preclinical evaluation. Marketed examples of these drugs include bexarotene and halofantrine. Additionally, working with government and industry partners, SRI has helped advance over 100 drugs into clinical trials and over 30 drugs onto the market. Through collaborations with other divisions at SRI, Biosciences is also working at the interfaces of science to create technical platforms for the next generation of drug discovery and development in areas such as drug delivery, real-time diagnostics, and systems biology.

About SRI International

Silicon Valley-based SRI International (www.sri.com) is one of the world's leading independent research and technology development organizations. Founded as Stanford Research Institute in 1946, SRI has been meeting the strategic needs of clients for 60 years. The nonprofit research institute performs client-sponsored research and development for government agencies, commercial businesses and private foundations. In addition to conducting contract R&D, SRI licenses its technologies, forms strategic partnerships, and creates spin-off companies.