Ecopia's ECO-4601 Also Effective Against Breast and Prostate Cancer.

MONTREAL -- Ecopia BioSciences Inc. (TSX:EIA) announced today new positive in vivo data demonstrating that ECO-4601, the Company's lead compound under development in brain cancer, is also active against breast and prostate cancer. In recent preclinical tests, ECO-4601 was shown to considerably reduce tumor growth in nude mice animal models bearing human breast cancer cells (the MDA-MB-231 model) and human prostate cancer cells (the PC3 model). ECO-4601 has already demonstrated potential in the treatment of primary brain tumor, an indication for which the Company is currently preparing an Investigational New Drug ("IND") application for clinical testing.

In the human PC3 prostate cancer model, tumor growth in animals treated with ECO-4601 was inhibited by 87% compared to the placebo group. In the MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer model, significant inhibition of tumor growth was also observed in mice treated with ECO-4601. Compared to the placebo group, the treated animals showed a tumor growth inhibition of 60%. Data will be fully disclosed at an upcoming scientific conference.

"These results have material commercial implications for Ecopia", mentioned Dr. Pierre Falardeau, President and CEO of Ecopia. "Breast and prostate cancers are the most common forms of cancer among women and men, respectively, after skin cancer. These potential applications add considerable value to ECO-4601, making it a multi-indication compound in a vast market with large unmet medical needs.

Commenting on ECO-4601's development strategy, Dr. Falardeau added, "Our development strategy for this promising compound can be summarized in two simple steps. First, we will continue to seek rapid market introduction by addressing an unmet medical need namely as primary brain tumor. Second, we will exploit the compound's full value by addressing its application to blockbuster markets such as prostate and breast."

Prostate and breast cancers are leading causes of death in industrial countries. In the United-States alone, an average of 250,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, while prostate cancer strikes an estimated 230,000 men each year. Together, these conditions take a heavy toll, causing some 40,000 and 30,000 deaths, respectively. Clearly, there is a strong need for effective therapies in this vast market of approximately 8 US$ billion.

About Ecopia

Ecopia is advancing its most promising compound ECO-4601, a potential new drug to treat brain cancer, through preclinical trials and expects to file an IND in 2005. Using its innovative DECIPHER(R) technology, the Company employs a radically different approach to discover new drugs, with anticancer, antibacterial or antifungal activity, from bacteria called actinomycetes. The most promising anticancer discoveries are added to Ecopia's rapidly growing pipeline for further development while other compounds will be leveraged to generate revenue through licensing and partnerships. Ecopia's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: EIA).

Additional information about the Company can be obtained from Ecopia's website at www.ecopiabio.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements, including expectations as to the pharmaceutical potential of ECO-4601 as an anticancer drug for brain, breast and prostate, the timeframe for preclinical and clinical development of ECO-4601, and expansion of the Company's product pipeline involve risk and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected here and depend on a number of factors, including scientific uncertainties relating to scientific hypotheses and experimental approaches in regard to drug discovery, uncertainties related to the regulatory process for drug development and the success and timely completion of clinical studies, and the impact of general economic conditions. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company appears in Ecopia's 2004 Annual Report.

ECOPIA BIOSCIENCES INC. (TSX:EIA)