Study Results Support Syndrome X Diet and Syn X Bar for Youths with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Business and Health/Medical Editors

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 10, 2001

Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC BB:SHPH.OB) today announced that recent study results published in the recent Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Vol. 85, No. 10, 2000, 3526-3530) demonstrated that females of low weight, who had symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and had begun early menstruation, experienced decreased PCOS symptoms when insulin levels were decreased.

PCOS can lead to devastating health and emotional consequences in as many as 1 of every 5 females within childbearing age. Common symptoms are menstrual irregularity characterized by infrequent periods or periods with very heavy blood flow, excessive body hair, obesity, or the inability to conceive children. Research studies have shown that PCOS is a manifestation of the high insulin levels of Syndrome X.

Syndrome X consists of a group of abnormalities arising from insulin resistance and was first described in 1988 by Dr. Gerald Reaven, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and Senior Vice President of Shaman Pharmaceuticals. A simple way to think of insulin resistance is as a defect in insulin's ability to get glucose into certain cells for energy. Syndrome X occurs when insulin resistant individuals secrete large amounts of insulin from the pancreas to make up for the inefficient insulin. The sheer volume of insulin that someone with Syndrome X can secrete, forces glucose into the proper cells but leaves behind unusually high and potentially damaging levels of insulin in the blood stream.

The recent study (Ibanez, et al) looked at 10 nonobese female youths between the ages of 13 and 20 years. One of the most notable aspects of this study was that it was composed of a lean population. These young girls were not overweight, yet they had the symptoms that lead to cardiovascular disease and multiple other disease manifestations of Syndrome X later in life.

All 10 young females with PCOS were treated with metformin to lower insulin. Within 4 months, all individuals in the study group showed decreased symptoms of PCOS. Triglyceride (blood fat) levels also dropped approximately 20%, LDL cholesterol decreased by 34% and total cholesterol by 15%. HDL (good) cholesterol increased by a dramatic 46%. All subjects reported normal menses within 4 months of treatment with metformin. When the treatment agent was withdrawn, inside of 3 months all youths experienced a reversal toward pretreatment conditions. The study concluded that the results corroborated previous evidence that insulin resistance is a prime factor behind PCOS and multiple other health problems associated with the elevated insulin levels of Syndrome X.

"Individuals who are insulin resistant with Syndrome X," said Dr. Reaven, "should focus on early prevention to lower risk of heart attack or its other disease manifestations such as PCOS, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes."

Dr. Reaven noted that initial studies indicate that elevated insulin levels may also predict colorectal, prostate, and breast cancers. Along with a steady diet of exercise and maintenance of a healthful weight, insulin resistant individuals can lower their risk by eating the Syndrome X Diet.

Dr. Reaven formulated the Syndrome X Diet to help individuals maintain healthy levels of insulin, triglyceride (blood fat), LDL cholesterol, and HDL (good) cholesterol. The Syndrome X Diet is based on his more than 35 years of clinical research at Stanford. The diet is a careful balance of 15% protein, 40% fat (mostly monounsaturated) and 45% carbohydrate.

"Diet is an important adjunct in treating Syndrome X," said Dr. Reaven. "In addition to eating a balanced diet, insulin resistant individuals should eat a diet that keeps insulin levels low while minimizing saturated fat intake. The Syndrome X Diet is the only balanced diet I know of that provides all those things simultaneously. The 15/40/45 ratio, with less than 10% saturated fat, minimizes the major risk factors for heart attack and the various other disease manifestations of Syndrome X."

Dr. Reaven emphasized that high protein or high carbohydrate diets are not the answer for insulin resistant individuals. Research studies show that both carbohydrate and protein stimulate insulin secretion, and when you eat too much of these things, you secrete unnecessarily high levels of insulin.

Based on Dr. Reaven's 15/40/45 ratio, Shaman launched the Syn X Bar in July 2000, as an adjunct to the Syndrome X Diet. Shaman also plans to incorporate SP-49400 into the Syn X Bar as well as into a wide array of other Syn X line products to satisfy customer's unmet needs for a natural, safe, stimulant-free weight loss alternative. The Company also plans to incorporate other proprietary ingredients into the Syn X Bar that have been shown to lower insulin and triglyceride levels.

For more information about managing Syndrome X and its multiple disease manifestations, or to order Syn X Bars, visit www.syndromexweb.com.

Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leader in medicinal plant research and commercialization of proprietary dietary supplements. Shaman works collaboratively with indigenous communities to discover, harvest and reforest medicinal plants. The Company also provides cultural educational programs in conjunction with rainforest communities. Shaman has retained Roth Capital Inc., an investment bank that focuses on emerging growth and middle market companies, to provide a broad range of corporate finance, research, syndicate sales and trading services to assist Shaman in exploring strategic business opportunities to drive shareholder value.

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.