Samaritan's Pipeline Strengthened with Australian Patent Office Grant for Underlying Technology.

LAS VEGAS -- Samaritan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMEX:LIV) a developer of innovative drugs to target AIDS, Alzheimer's and Cardiovascular disease, announced today that the Australian Patent Office has issued Patent Number 772764 entitled "Peripheral-Type Benzodiazepine Receptor Associated Proteins, Cloning, Expression and Methods of Use." The number of granted claims in the above-mentioned patent is 96.

This Australian patent was issued to Georgetown University, research partner and collaborator of Samaritan Pharmaceuticals. Samaritan holds the world-wide exclusive license to this patent and to future issued patents that may be issued in the same patent family.

In addition to securing patent protection in Australia, Samaritan is seeking broad patent protection globally, having filed international patent applications in key pharmaceutical markets around the world, including the United States, Europe, and Japan.

"Considerable work still needs to be done before there is an actual product ready for clinical development, but the patent and research published below demonstrates the validity of the concept that underlies numerous drugs in our pipeline to treat a vast number of illnesses. In addition, this Australian patent allowance also contributes to our strong global intellectual property portfolio, an important part of our strategy for the creation of value within Samaritan Pharmaceuticals," stated Eugene Boyle, CFO of Samaritan Pharmaceuticals.

Some of the research to date on this patent has been published in the following journals:

Li H, Degenhardt, Tobin D, Yao, Z., Tasken K, Papadopoulos V (2001) Identification, localization, and function in steroidogenesis of PAP7: A peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor- and protein kinase A (RI(alpha))-associated protein. Molecular Endocrinology, 15:2211-2228.

Liu J, Han Z, Sandrini F, Bei T, Matyakhina L, Stratakis CA, Papadopoulos V (2003) Molecular cloning, chromosomal localization of human peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor- and PKA regulatory subunit type 1A (PRKAR1A)-associated protein PAP7 and studies in PRKAR1A mutant cells and tissues. FASEB Journal, 17:1189-1191. Full text of this article, go to http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/doi/10.1096/fj.02-1066fje

Liu J, Cavalli LR, Haddad BR, Papadopoulos V (2003) Molecular cloning, genomic organization, chromosomal mapping and subcellular localization of mouse PAP7: a PBR and PKA-RI(alpha) associated protein. Gene, 308:1-10.

Liu J, Li H, Papadopoulos V (2003) PAP7, a PBR/PKA-RI(alpha)-associated protein: a new element in the relay of the hormonal induction of steroidogenesis. J Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 85: 275-283.

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals: "A Cure Is Closer Than You Think."

Samaritan Pharmaceuticals is working to ensure a longer and better life, for patients suffering with AIDS, Alzheimer's, Cancer and Cardiovascular disease. Samaritan is an innovation-driven Biopharmaceutical, with a clear focus on advancing innovative drugs through clinical development to become commercially valuable compounds.

Samaritan has in-licensed twelve innovations from Georgetown University and is concurrently, advancing four drug programs; SP-01A (HIV) Clinical trials; SP-10 (HIV) preIND status; SP-233 (Alzheimer's) preIND status; and SP-1000 (Cardiovascular) animal studies; along with STTR NIH grants to develop a simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's and to study a novel series of neuroprotective compounds.

Samaritan's proprietary HIV drug SP-01A is the closest to commercialization. SP-01A is an easy to take, oral, "Entry Inhibitor" drug that works by blocking the HIV virus' ability to infect a cell. Encouraging data from its FDA Phase I/II trial suggests SP-01A, as a promising drug for patients experiencing "drug resistance."

Visit our Web site at www.samaritanpharmaceuticals.com

Disclaimer

The company disclaims any information that is created by an outside party and endorses only information that is communicated by its press releases, filings and Web site. This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current beliefs about the potential for its drug candidates, science and technology. However, as with any biopharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks and uncertainties in the process of development and regulatory review. There are no guarantees that products will prove to be commercially successful. For additional information about the factors that affect the company's business, please read the company's latest Form 10-K filed April 14, 2004. The company undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.