Forbes Appoints Technology Advisory Board.

Business Editors

VANCOUVER, B.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 2000

As part of its strategy to expand its product pipeline into new therapeutic areas, Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. (Nasdaq:FMTI)(TSE:FMI.) today announced the appointment of a Technology Advisory Board, members of which are renowned internationally for their experience and expertise in the areas of molecular, natural product chemistry and pharmaceutical development.

"Members of the Technology Advisory Board will provide input and guidance to the Forbes basic research team allowing the Company to expand its research initiatives beyond cardiovascular medications and steroid-based drugs into other therapeutic areas," said Dr. James Kutney, Vice-President, Scientific Research & Development, Forbes Medi-Tech.

The Technology Advisory Board will comprise the following scientists:

Frank S. Abbott, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Abbott has published more than 150 papers and presented 75 scientific papers at national and international conferences. His primary research focuses on the metabolism of anticonvulsant substances. He has held various professional leadership positions in numerous professional organizations such as the Canadian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Medical Research Council of Canada.

Bruno Botta, Ph.D., Professor of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy. Dr. Botta is the author of 80 publications, holds four patents in the areas of antitumoral and hypotensive agents derived from living plants, and is an expert in the medicinal plants. His research efforts focus on biosynthetic pathways of plant tissue cultures.

Lester A. Mitscher, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Kansas in the United States. His current research interests include antibiotics, genetics, chemoprevention, biosynthesis and applications of combinational methodologies in drug discovery. He has published over 240 papers and six books on drug chemistry and holds 15 U.S. and global patents.

Margo Moore, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada. Dr. Moore holds a doctorate in pharmacology and has extensive research experience in biochemistry. She has written dozens of scientific articles and presentations focusing on two areas: research into biological toxicology and remediation, and research into pathogenic microorganisms.

Bilge Sener, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. Dr. Sener is a respected authority on the structure of biologically active compounds in plants. She has presented over 198 technical papers at 98 international symposia and conferences and written 270 research articles, reviews and book chapters. Her work has been recognized by scientific organizations internationally.

Robert S. Ward, Ph.D., Reader, Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom. Dr. Ward has published 144 articles and three textbooks. His current research interests include the basic role of plant products in the chemistry of drugs, particularly those relating to cancer tumours.

"We are delighted that such distinguished world-class scientists have agreed to contribute their recognised expertise to Forbes as we continue to develop novel technologies for synthesizing potential new drugs for a global marketplace," said Dr. Kutney. "Their collective input from the fields of medicinal chemistry, microbiology and the mechanisms of drug interaction will be vital to our scientific team in moving products from the initial stages of investigation through to commercialisation."

Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. is a diversified health sciences company dedicated to the research, development and commercialisation of innovative nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products derived from nature. By extracting plant sterols from pulping by-products, Forbes is developing cholesterol-lowering agents to be used both as functional food ingredients and pharmaceutical therapeutics in the battle against heart disease. Forbes is also developing innovative fermentation technology that converts plant sterols into pharmaceutical fine chemicals, essential in the production of various pharmaceutical steroids such as contraceptive agents and anti-inflammatories. Phytrol(TM) and CardioRex(TM) are trademarks of Forbes Medi-Tech Inc

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