Boston Life Sciences Initiates Phase II Altropane-TM- Study in Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder -ADHD- in Children.

Business Editors and Health/Medical Writers

BOSTON--(BW HealthWire)--March 18, 2002

Goal of study is to differentiate children with ADHD from those with

anxiety disorders

Boston Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLSI) announced that its Phase II study to diagnose ADHD in children using Altropane, the Company's radio-imaging agent that targets the Dopamine Transporter (DAT), has been initiated. The 40 subject study will be performed at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Mass., two institutions of renowned excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Patient enrollment is anticipated to begin the first week of April, 2002.

The study will enter children between ages 8-17 that have an expertly-determined psychiatric diagnosis of either ADHD (20 subjects) or one of three anxiety syndromes (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, or Separation Anxiety Disorder [20 subjects]). An Altropane-SPECT scan will then be performed on each child and the indirect measure of DATs will be calculated by a nuclear medicine specialist without knowledge of the subject's previously established clinical diagnosis. The results of the ADHD group will then be statistically compared to those of the anxiety group. The working hypothesis is that children with ADHD will have a statistically-significant elevation in their calculated DATs compared to those with anxiety disorders. The degree of statistical separation of the groups will then be used in planning the Phase III study.

"The successful results in our first Phase II study in adults, which demonstrated a highly-statistically significant elevation in DAT numbers in individuals with expertly-diagnosed ADHD as compared to normal volunteers, has led us to test Altropane in children," stated Dr. Marc Lanser, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of BLSI. "ADHD is often difficult to differentiate clinically from anxiety disorders in children; therefore any objective test to aid in differentiating these two groups could be of great practical importance," added Dr. Lanser.

BLSI is developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics for Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as treatments for cancer, autoimmune disease, and central nervous system disorders. BLSI's products in development include: ALTROPANE(TM) and FLUORATEC(TM) radioimaging agents for the diagnosis of PD and ADHD; Troponin I, a naturally-occurring anti-angiogenesis factor for the treatment of solid tumors; AF-1 and Inosine, nerve growth factors for the treatment of acute and chronic CNS disorders; novel therapies for the treatment of PD and ADHD; and transcription factors that may control the expression of molecules associated with autoimmune disease and allergies.

Statements made in this press release other than statements of historical fact represent forward-looking statements. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expectations or beliefs as to future results or events, such as the expected timing and results of clinical trials, discussions with regulatory agencies, schedules of IND, NDA and all other regulatory submissions, the timing of product introductions, the possible approval of products, and the market size and possible advantages of the Company's products. All such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may vary materially from these statements. Factors that may affect future results include: the availability and adequacy of financial resources, the ability to obtain intellectual property protection, delays in the regulatory or development processes, results of scientific data from clinical trials, the outcome of discussions with potential partners, regulatory decisions, market acceptance of the Company's products, and other possible risks and uncertainties that have been noted in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.