Newly Launched Dietary Supplement for Alcoholics May Have Other Benefit; Lipid Soluble Thiamine, Under Evaluation for Diabetes, is Key Component of ThiaSure Multivitamin.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

WAYLAND, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 20, 2003

Recovery Pharmaceuticals has just launched a new product, ThiaSure(TM) Multivitamin/Multimineral Dietary Supplement to address the nutritional deficiencies found in many alcoholics. A unique component of ThiaSure(TM) is lipid soluble thiamine, a form of vitamin B1 that is not found in other multivitamin preparations. In a new study recently published by researchers at Albert Einstein School of Medicine, a similar form of lipid soluble thiamine, benfotiamine, was successful in blocking the development of diabetic retinopathy in rats. Recovery Pharmaceuticals is initiating a research program to explore the effect of ThiaSure(TM) and its lipid soluble form of thiamine in diabetes.

David Dlesk, CEO of Recovery Pharmaceuticals, commented today "ThiaSure(TM) is an important new dietary supplement for the treatment of serious vitamin deficiencies that often occur with alcoholism. ThiaSure(TM) is readily accessible to alcoholics and other patients in need of lipid soluble thiamine. We plan to develop ThiaSure(TM) for diabetics, to add to their arsenal of products used to treat this complicated disease."

Barbara S. Fox, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, said, "We know that delivering high dose lipid soluble thiamine is important for treating thiamine deficiency found in alcoholism. This study in Nature Medicine (published February 17, 2003 online edition) opens up the exciting possibility that easily absorbed lipid soluble thiamine effectively increases the activity of transketolase and thus may have additional therapeutic uses, including prevention and treatment of the side effects of diabetes. We intend to fully explore this promising possibility in a new research effort."

ThiaSure(TM) is the first product specifically designed to address the nutritional needs of alcoholics. ThiaSure(TM) is a unique formulation with high doses of the vitamins and minerals that are often lacking as a result of heavy alcohol use, particularly thiamine (vitamin B1), and lower doses of certain nutrients that could potentially be harmful for someone with compromised liver function. The thiamine in ThiaSure(TM) is in a lipid soluble form not found in other multivitamins, which allows it to be more easily absorbed by the body. The brain damage and the accompanying cognitive impairment that occur from alcohol abuse are caused by the toxicity of the alcohol and deficiencies in key vitamins and minerals. ThiaSure(TM) is available for sale without a prescription over the internet at www.ThiaSure.com or by phone at 888-222-3819.

Recovery Pharmaceuticals is using its Gray Matters(TM) educational and marketing campaign to alert people to the fact that nutritional supplementation is critical for alcoholics. There are over 9 million alcoholics in the United States and each year 1 million of them receive treatment for their disease. Studies have shown that over 70% of recovering alcoholics have impaired mental function and 50% of alcoholics have nutritional deficiencies. The deficiencies result from a combination of poor vitamin intake, poor absorption because of the effects of alcohol and an increased vitamin need to chemically process the alcohol. Early stages of brain damage often go undiagnosed, so it is important that all alcoholic patients receive ample nutrients to protect brain function. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published a paper citing the increased vitamin requirements of alcoholics.

Recovery Pharmaceuticals is developing and marketing products to treat addictive disorders. Substance abuse is the nation's number one health problem according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In spite of this, there are few medications to treat addiction and only a handful of companies focusing in this area. Recovery Pharmaceuticals was founded by Dr. Barbara Fox to meet the needs of the millions of people addicted to alcohol, tobacco and cocaine who could benefit from new, effective medications. Recovery Pharmaceuticals has a full-pipeline of new products in development including The Straw(TM) Nicotine Oral Delivery System to treat tobacco dependence and Cobrex(TM) a new drug to treat cocaine addiction that is being supported by a $4.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. ThiaSure(TM) is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the company's (i) technologies, product candidates, intents and goals, and (ii) research and development plans. Forward-looking statements reflect Recovery Pharmaceutical's current estimates with respect to future events. Actual results may vary materially and adversely from those anticipated, believed, estimated, or otherwise indicated.