Shaman Announces Continued Results to Support Safe Treatment of Everyday Diarrhea.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 11, 2000

Shaman.com, the main operating division of Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC BB:SHPH.OB) today announced completed studies in collaboration with researchers at Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute (CHORI) and the University of California (UC), Berkeley that have further defined the mechanism of action through which Shaman's Normal Stool Formula (NSF), a proprietary botanical anti-diarrheal, safely treats watery diarrhea.

Watery diarrhea typically occurs when there is a disturbance to the cells lining the small intestine, which results in an excess secretion of chloride ions. The secretion of ions into the intestine is accompanied by an inflow of water, which causes the watery diarrhea. In the studies recently completed at CHORI and UC, Berkeley, NSF and its principle ingredient, SP-303, were further investigated as to their ability to inhibit the physiological channels involved with chloride ion secretion in the intestinal tract.

The new findings contribute to information presented at the combined 17th Annual AIDS Investigator's Meeting and 3rd Annual Conference on AIDS Research in California and published in the American Journal of Physiology in 1999, on the powerful anti-secretory activity of NSF and SP-303. These studies have shown the anti-secretory effectiveness of both NSF and SP-303 to be equal. NSF and SP-303 have also been shown to be equally safe and effective for the treatment of watery diarrhea in clinical studies. Over 1200 patients have been involved in human clinical trials of these agents, including studies lasting over a year.

NSF relieves diarrhea without causing constipation and inhibits fluid loss without affecting the normal motility in the gut, and therefore can be used for those suffering from chronic diarrhea without side effects. Since the principle ingredient in NSF is not absorbed, it is also very safe and doesn't interfere with the absorption of other mediations. The broad-acting anti-secretory mechanism of NSF targets both acute (i.e. Traveler's) and chronic diarrheas. However, unlike other leading anti-diarrheal agents that warn customers not to use their drug for more than two days, NSF is a uniquely positioned natural medicine which provides a safe solution for sufferers of everyday diarrhea.

Over 85% of the Company's direct sales are to chronically ill customers with a high propensity to re-order, including those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), chemotherapy or radiation induced diarrhea, or usage of more than 80% of prescription medications that cause diarrhea.

Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc., through its main operating division Shaman.com, is a leader in medicinal plant research and commercialization of proprietary dietary supplements. Shaman.com works collaboratively with indigenous communities to discover, harvest and reforest medicinal plants.

This press release contains, among other things, certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to Shaman's ability to advance its development and research programs. Such statements involve a number of risk and uncertainties including the Risk Factors listed in the Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10K and 10K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999. These filings are available upon request at 650/952-7070. Also visit Shaman at http://www.Shaman.com.