Paul Freiman named chairman of GeneMedicine's board of directors; Arthur Pappas appointed as director.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 18, 1995-- GeneMedicine Inc. (NASDAQ:GMED) Wednesday announced the appointment of Paul E. Freiman, the chairman of Syntex (U.S.A.) Inc. and former chairman and chief executive officer of Syntex Corp., as director and chairman of the company's board of directors.

Arthur M. Pappas, a former director of Glaxo Holdings, p.l.c., responsible for operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Canada, has been appointed as a director, according to GeneMedicine President and CEO Eric Tomlinson, D.Sc., Ph.D.

Since becoming a public company in July 1994, GeneMedicine has sought a number of new board members having experience and expertise applicable to the governance and development of a publicly traded, product-oriented biotechnology company.

"We are very pleased with the board appointments of Paul Freiman and Art Pappas," Tomlinson said. "Both of these men have extensive experience in financing as well as day-to-day management of global health care companies.

"With their first-hand knowledge from Syntex and Glaxo respectively, we consider them significant assets to the GeneMedicine board and a competitive advantage in our business development."

Freiman, who will leave Syntex shortly after more than 30 years of service, is currently Syntex's chairman and CEO. Freiman is a former chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He was chairman of the task force to review the Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices for the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Associations.

From 1991 to 1993, he served as a member of the Jackson Hole Group, a U.S. think tank on health care reform. He is currently on the board and executive committee of the Pharmaceutical Partners for Better Health Care, a global organization of CEOs of research-based pharmaceutical companies.

In 1989, Freiman was granted an honorary doctorate from the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and received the first "Friend of the Academy of Students of Pharmacy Award" from the American Pharmaceutical Association. In 1991, Freiman received the Award of Distinction from the Pharmacists Planning Service.

"GeneMedicine's current financial position, technology progress and business strategy make the company a top competitor in the gene therapy industry with a promising future," said new Chairman Freiman. "I am looking forward to serving on a board of such a dynamic company."

Pappas, who has been in the health care industry since 1971, is an independent counselor and strategic advisor specializing in health care and high technology life science industries. He is a member of the board of directors of Quintiles Transnational Corp. and Singapore's National Science and Technology Board. Until 1994, Pappas held management and board positions with Glaxo, most recently as director on the parent company's main board with executive and board responsibilities for operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Canada.

He also has held various positions with Abbott Laboratories International Ltd., Marion Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals and The Dow Chemical Co. He has been active in World Health Organization programs and has been involved in projects sponsored by the International Union Against Tuberculosis, the International Congress of Chemotherapy and Project Hope.

Pappas also is active with the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America and was a member of the group's International Section executive committee. He is a member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. and the North Carolina Center for Entrepreneurial Development. Pappas earned his bachelor degree in biology at Ohio State University and a MBA in finance at Xavier University.

"In my various capacities in the health care industry, I have had the opportunity to study biotechnology companies at different development levels," said Pappas. "I have been impressed by GeneMedicine's technological advances and its strong and experienced management team."

In addition to Freiman, Pappas and Tomlinson, GeneMedicine's board of directors includes: Stanley T. Crooke, M.D., Ph.D., chairman and CEO if Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc.; David F.J. Leathers, director of Abingworth Management Ltd.; William T. Mullaney, managing partner of Ventures Medical Associates and Stephen J. Banks, president of BCM Technologies.

GeneMedicine is developing a new class of pharmaceutical products that incorporate genes, called "gene medicines." The company's proprietary gene medicines are based on two technologies -- gene expression systems and synthetic gene delivery systems -- that combine to control the location, level and duration of gene expression within the body.

GeneMedicine's technologies have potential application in the development of gene therapy methods for a wide range of genetic and acquired diseases and disorders, including certain blood, muscle, inflammatory, pulmonary, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and cancers, and in the development of gene vaccines for a variety of clinical applications.

CONTACT: GeneMedicine Inc., The Woodlands

Angela Goodwin, 713/364-1150