Sigma-Tau Announces Formation of Sigma-Tau, U.S., Holding Company for Its Three U.S. Companies.

Business Editors

GAITHERSBURG, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2002

Sigma-Tau Group, the Rome, Italy-based pharmaceutical company which began U.S. operations in 1989, recently formed Sigma-Tau, U.S., a holding company for its three U.S. companies located in Gaithersburg, Maryland - Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sigma-Tau HealthScience, Inc., and Sigma-Tau Research, Inc.

Additionally, Sigma-Tau finalized appointment of its leadership team for each of the three companies.

The U.S. companies will continue the organization's three decades of research into carnitine's role in cellular metabolism and the provision of pharmaceutical-quality carnitine that is not genetically modified. Sigma-Tau is recognized as the worldwide leader in carnitine and metabolic research and ranks among the top 25 niche companies in the world in patent activity.

Each of the three U.S. companies focuses on meeting the needs of their specific patient audiences and has garnered a reputation for genuine dedication to the patients who use their products.

Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is primarily dedicated to the development and production of "orphan" drugs for small numbers of patients whose pharmaceutical needs might not otherwise be met.

"At Sigma-Tau, we believe that quality of life is precious and no patient should be overlooked, no matter how rare the illness," said Kenneth Mehrling, chief operating officer of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals.

Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals' products include Carnitor(R), an FDA-approved treatment for carnitine deficiency in dialysis patients and patients with inborn metabolic disorders. The company is also developing other orphan drug treatments such as Cysteamine Eye Drops, used to treat the crystals that form in the eyes of cystinosis patients.

Sigma-Tau HealthScience, Inc., is composed of two divisions - Consumer Products (focusing on dietary supplements and nutritional foods) and Fine Chemicals. The Consumer Products' division's flagship product is Proxeed(TM), a dietary supplement with nutrients that are clinically proven to help optimize a man's reproductive health. Sigma-Tau HealthScience's Consumer Products division is committed to the discovery and sale of innovative metabolic compounds that enhance the body's natural ability to maintain health. It promotes products primarily through physicians and other medical professionals. The Fine Chemicals Division supplies Biosint Carnitines(TM) to some of the world's leading nutritional supplement, medical foods, food and infant formula companies.

Sigma-Tau Research, Inc., is developing a series of compounds, in a variety of clinical indications for the U.S. market. These include:

-- Propionyl-L-carnitine (ST 261): this compound has completed phase III for
Intermittent Claudication, and an NDA is being prepared. Future development
areas will focus on the cardiovascular system.

-- Acetyl-L-carnitine (ST 200): this compound has been developed in both
Alzheimer's disease and peripheral diabetic neuropathy, where it has completed
phase III. Future areas of development will still revolve around cognition and
peripheral neuropathy of different origin.

-- Gimatecan (ST 1481): a camptothecin derivative, is in phase I-II for
malignant glioma and other solid tumors.

-- Other new chemical entities will be entering the clinical development phase,
starting later this year, for other cardiovascular diseases and in oncology.

Leadership teams for the three companies are:

Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

-- C. Kenneth Mehrling, Chief Operating Officer; Gianfranco

Fornasini, Ph.D., Vice President of Regulatory Sciences;

Justina Lambert, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate

Communications; Warren J. Holmes, Vice President of

Organization and Human Resources; and Gregg Lapointe, Vice

President of Finance.

Sigma-Tau HealthScience, Inc.

-- Pietro Pola, Ph.D., Chief Operating Officer; David A. Barshis,

Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Products; Ken

Hassen, Vice President and General Manager, Fine Chemicals; J.

Michael Hoopes, Pharm.D., Vice President for Scientific

Affairs, Consumer Products; and Lucia Callari, Vice President

of Operations, Fine Chemicals.

Sigma-Tau Research, Inc.

-- Paolo Carminati, M.D., Chief Operating Officer; and Antonino

Amato, M.D., General Manager.

About Sigma-Tau, U.S.

Sigma-Tau, U.S., is composed of Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sigma-Tau HealthScience, Inc., and Sigma-Tau Research, Inc., and is part of the Rome, Italy-based Sigma-Tau Group. Sigma-Tau is the worldwide leader in carnitine and metabolic research. Established in 1980, Sigma-Tau began commercial operations in the U.S. in 1989. For more than a decade, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals has garnered a reputation in the U.S. for genuine dedication to the patients who use their products and has achieved prominence within the scientific research and development community. Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is the U.S. subsidiary of Sigma-Tau S.p.A., the leading research-based Italian pharmaceutical company, with subsidiaries worldwide. Sigma-Tau ranks among the 25 top niche companies in the world in patent activity. Sigma-Tau HealthScience focuses on dietary supplements and medical foods. Sigma-Tau Research, Inc. is developing a series of compounds, in a variety of clinical indications, for the USA market.