ChiroChem Discovery Services Announces New Product Launch.

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--March 18, 1999--ChiroChem(R) Discovery Services LLC, a joint venture between CombiChem Inc. (Nasdaq NMS:CCHM) and Chirotech Technology Limited, a member of the Chiroscience Group of companies (LSE:CRO), is announcing at the 217th American Chemical Society National Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., the launch of the first series of the ChiroChem Codex single-isomer chiral libraries.

These libraries are based on novel templates supplied by Chirotech and are designed and synthesized using CombiChem's proprietary technologies. The "hits" obtained from screening these libraries will provide a starting point for drug discovery chemists in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries.

During the ACS meeting, ChiroChem Discovery Services will be hosting two workshops highlighting the combined capabilities of CombiChem and Chirotech illustrating how their complimentary technologies will be integrated to provide novel, stereo-defined libraries. The workshops will be held on Monday and Tuesday, March 22 and 23. Topics to be covered include asymmetric synthesis, design of information-rich libraries, purification strategies and a summary of ChiroChem's capabilities and advantages.

Chirotech Technology Limited, based in Cambridge, U.K., is an acknowledged world leader in the provision of chiral technology, products and services to the Life Science industries. Its established portfolio includes ChiroChem(TM) Collection -- a catalogue of novel chiral building blocks for discovery and early development; ChiroSure(TM) -- contract R&D Services; ChiroCats(TM) Proprietary catalysts and ligands; and, through its alliance with Mitchell Cotts Chemicals UK, the provision of advanced chiral intermediates and API's at the multi-tonne scale.

CombiChem Inc., based in San Diego, is a computational product discovery company that is applying its proprietary design technology and rapid synthesis capabilities to accelerate the discovery process for new drugs and chemical products. The company believes its approach offers the pharmaceutical and chemical industries the opportunity to conduct their discovery efforts in a more productive and cost effective manner. Using its proprietary Discovery Engine(TM) process, CombiChem focuses on the generation, evolution, and optimization of new lead candidates for its collaborative partners, who will then develop, manufacture, market, and sell the resulting products.

CombiChem has established collaborative agreements with Athena Neuroscience Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Elan Corp. plc., ICOS Corp., ImClone Systems Inc., Novartis Crop Protection AG, Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Roche Bioscience, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Teijin Limited.

Except for the historical and financial information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release may contain forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties, including new and uncertain technologies employed by the companies, dependence on intellectual property rights, the competitive nature of the industry in which the companies and the joint venture operate and risks of obsolescence of certain technologies. Actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements represent the judgment of the companies as of the date of this release. The companies disclaim, however, any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Information on ChiroChem Discovery Services' New Product Launch can be reviewed on the Web at www.chirochem.com.