Fifth Annual Northwest Bioscience Investment Conference to be Held August 12-13.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 1996--Medical Investments Northwest (MINW), an annual conference for institutional investors hosted by Northwest area biotechnology and medical technology companies, will be held Monday and Tuesday, August 12-13 at the Westin Hotel in Seattle.

Approximately 20 emerging growth companies developing a variety of innovative health care products will participate in this year's program. Headquartered in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia, the companies include Alcide Corporation, Cascade Oncogenics Inc., Cell Therapeutics Inc., CellPro Inc., Darwin Molecular Corp., Epitope Inc., ICOS Corp., ID Biomedical Corp., NeoRx Corp., Ostex International Inc., ProCyte Corp., QLT PhotoTherapeutics Inc., Response Biomedical Corp, Targeted Genetics Corp. and Xillix Technologies Corp. The companies will describe their technologies, products and business strategies.

The day-and-a-half meeting will include thirty minute presentations by each of the hosting companies, as well as break-out sessions for closer interaction with conference attendees. In addition, renowned biotechnology researcher Leroy Hood, chairman of the Department of Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Washington, will give the keynote address on Monday.

"The Northwest region has a large bioscience community that is making significant contributions to the medical field," said H. Stewart Parker, president and chief executive officer of Targeted Genetics. "By joining together in the Medical Investments Northwest Conference, the hosting companies provide a unique forum to inform analysts and institutional investors from across the United States and Canada about their investment opportunities."

The following is a brief description of the participating companies:

Alcide Corporation (NASDAQ:ALCD) in Redmond, Wash. develops and markets unique biocidal products based on its patented technology. Alcide currently sells anti-infective products to the animal health market and disinfecting products to the medical and automotive industries. In April, Alcide received FDA approval of the company's Food Additive Petition for an antimicrobial designed to control harmful microorganisms on poultry.

Cascade Oncogenics Inc., a private company in Portland, Ore., develops cancer diagnostics tests based on its proprietary technology relating to the regulation of cell proliferation. A series of new diagnostic tests are aimed at the early detection and prognosis of cancer and the ability to monitor the progress of disease during therapy. The first product, which will aid diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer, is being evaluated in oncology reference labs.

Cell Therapeutics Inc. is a privately held, Seattle-based pharmaceutical company focused on discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule drugs that modulate the production of cell membrane lipids called phosphatidic acids (PAs) for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory and immune diseases. A stress-activated pathway in such disease states, PAs represent a novel drug development target with the potential for more disease-specific therapies, with safety and efficacy profiles superior to those of existing therapeutics.

CellPro Inc. (NASDAQ:CPRO), located in Bothell, Wash. is a biotechnology company specializing in the development, manufacturing and marketing of proprietary continuous-flow, cell-selection systems for use in a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications.

Darwin Molecular Corp., a privately held company, opened its laboratories in Bothell, Wash. in August 1994 and focuses on the application of genomics technology to human disease as part of an integrated approach to discovering new therapeutics. The company's drug discovery technology includes development of molecular and cellular assays and small-molecule combinatorial chemistry. Darwin is concentrating on the discovery of novel, small molecule pharmaceuticals for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, aging-associated diseases and certain cancers.

Epitope, Inc. (AMEX:EPT), located in Beaverton, Ore., is a biotechnology company that develops and markets medical diagnostic products and, through its agricultural unit, superior new plant varieties.

ICOS Corporation (Nasdaq:ICOS) located in Bothell, is discovering and developing new pharmaceuticals by seeking points of intervention in the inflammatory process that may lead to more specific and efficacious drugs. The company's research and drug development programs involve both acute and chronic conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiovascular disease, hemorrhagic shock, ischemic stroke, male erectile disorder and multiple sclerosis.

ID Biomedical Corp. (Nasdaq:IDBEF; TSE:IDB), located in Vancouver, is a biotechnology company which is developing a DNA-based diagnostic system and related products based on its proprietary SLT and CPT technologies. The company, through its subsidiary ID Vaccine Corp., is engaged in the development of subunit vaccines and immunotherapeutics against infectious diseases.

NeoRx Corp. (Nasdaq:NERX), headquartered in Seattle, Wash., develops targeted therapeutics to treat cancer and cardiovascular diseases. NeoRx's lead therapeutic products, Avicidin Cancer Therapy and Biostent, an agent designed to prevent restenosis after balloon angioplasty, are in Phase I clinical trials. A Product License and Establishment License Application for Verluma, a small cell lung cancer imaging agent developed by NeoRx, is in late stage review at the Food and Drug Administration.

Ostex International, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTX), located in Seattle, is engaged in the discovery, development, sales and marketing of diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases of the skeleton. The company believes its lead product, Osteomark, incorporates breakthrough technology in the area of bone resorption measurement.

ProCyte Corp. (Nasdaq: PRCY) is a development-stage health care company that is developing products for wound care and healing, including chronic dermal ulcers and other indications. The company also provides contract manufacturing services in its state-of-the-art, validated manufacturing plant. The company is located in Kirkland, Wash.

QLT Photo Therapeutics Inc. (TSE:QLT; NasdaqNMS:QLTIF) is a world leader in the development of proprietary pharmaceutical products for photodynamic therapy, an emerging medical therapy that utilizes light-activated drugs in the treatment of cancer, diseases of the eye and other medical conditions. The company is located in Vancouver.

Response Biomedical Corp. (VSE:RBM) is a health care company focused on the research and commercialization of cost-effective point-of-care testing systems. The company is located in Vancouver B.C.

Targeted Genetics Corp. (Nasdaq:TGEN) in Seattle, Wash. develops gene and cell therapies for the treatment of certain acquired and inherited diseases. The company's principal focus is on in vivo adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy, initially for cystic fibrosis; CTL immunotherapy for infectious diseases and cancer; and stem cell gene therapy.

Xillix Technologies Corp. (TSE:XLX), located in Richmond, British Columbia, is a medical devices company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of imaging products which aid in the earlier detection of cancer.

Other companies have also been invited. Conference management is being provided by Russell-Welsh, Inc., a biomedical communications firm.

CONTACT: Russell-Welsh Inc. for Medical Investments Northwest

Angela Adams, 415/312-0700