Computer Scientist Joins Samaritan Research Team to Shorten Time in Identifying Drugs by Using Virtual Molecular Database Screening and Structure-based Computational Chemistry.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB: SPHC):

-- Introducing Mr. Teper whose expertise in "Virtual Molecular

Databases" will allow for the screening of disease related

biological targets and the use of "structure-based

computational chemistry" to produce molecular libraries. Mr.

Teper's work is expected to enormously expedite the

identification of compounds with a focus on the ability to

control cholesterol metabolism, cholesterol movement in tumor

cells, hopefully leading to new therapies in Cancer and

Alzheimer's.

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB: SPHC) and Samaritan Laboratories, School of Medicine, Georgetown University announces the addition of Mr. Gary L. Teper, a Research Computer Scientist, to its research team.

Mr. Teper, an Aeronautical Engineer, has a B.S. in Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts and a M.S. from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. Teper's past experience includes being an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University Medical Center and Consultant to the U.S. State Department. He has received awards, grants and has numerous papers published in peer-reviewed journals.

His contribution to Samaritan Research Laboratories brings:

-- More than 40 years' experience working in computer applications directed
towards analyzing and designing complex dynamic systems.

-- For the last four years, in the research and development environment at
Georgetown University Medical Center, he has addressed biomedical sciences with
specific attention to molecular modeling and drug screening.

-- He has extensive expertise in techniques used for system modeling,
simulation, analysis and synthesis as applied in diverse fields.

-- He brings to molecular modeling and drug screening approaches, algorithms
and programs, which have evolved in other fields, that can be successfully
applied to the challenges of predicting protein structures and target/ligand
interaction.

Mr. Teper, Scientist at Samaritan Laboratories, Georgetown University, stated, "I look forward to contributing eclectic computational insights and effective, efficient screening programs to this research team." Dr. Vassili Papadopoulos, the Head of the Division of Hormone Research and Professor of Cell Biology at Georgetown University Medical Center stated, "The addition of Gary Teper to our research team adds a new dimension to our capabilities towards drug discovery."

The company disclaims any information that is created by an outside party and endorses only information that is communicated by its press releases, filings and website. This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current beliefs about the potential for its drug candidates, science and technology for the approved indications. However, as with any biopharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks and uncertainties in the process of development and regulatory review. There are no guarantees that products will prove to be commercially successful. For additional information about the factors that affect the company's business, please see Exhibit 99 to the company's latest Form 10-Q, filed November 2001. The company undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.