Opens New Manufacturing Site

Phytopharm PLC 11 April 2002 April 11th 2002 Phytopharm plc Opens new manufacturing unit in South Africa Phytopharm plc (PYM: London Stock Exchange) ('Phytopharm') announces today that it has completed the installation of a new botanical supplies unit in South Africa to substantially expand the manufacturing capacity for its appetite suppressant P57 in support of the further development of the product. P57 is derived from an extract of Hoodia Gordonii, a South African succulent plant. It was licensed in June 1997 by Phytopharm from the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) in South Africa. In August 1998, an exclusive world-wide licensing agreement was signed with Pfizer Inc for the development and global commercialisation of P57 as an oral prescription drug to treat obesity. The successful completion of the proof of principle clinical study for P57 was announced in December 2001. This study used raw materials manufactured in the existing unit in South Africa. The new facility will expand the capacity for processing the raw materials by 300 percent and a programme to process substantial quantities of plant material is now underway. Commenting on the announcement, Dr Richard Dixey, Chief Executive of Phytopharm, said: 'Phytopharm continues to make strong progress in the development of P57, as well as other products we hope to develop in our long-term collaboration with the CSIR.' The US market for treating obesity is estimated to be worth in excess of $3 billion, with annual costs relating to obesity-related diseases exceeding $75 billion (source IMS). - Ends - Enquiries: Phytopharm plc Dr Richard Dixey Tel: 01480 437697 Mobile: 07867 782000 Financial Dynamics Jonathan Birt Tel: 0207 831 3113 NOTES TO EDITORS Phytopharm plc Phytopharm is the leading company in the development of Botanical pharmaceuticals. Botanicals enable the rapid clinical evaluation of plant medicines in chronic and poorly understood diseases. Where novel modes of action are discovered, such research can form the basis for drug discovery platforms, which enable the development of new medicines and the isolation of single chemical entities of clinical importance. Phytopharm has four drug discovery platforms in full development, for obesity and metabolic syndrome, neural and muscular degeneration, inflammation and dermatitis. Phytopharm is developing nine products based on its four drug discovery platforms alongside a number of other projects in early evaluation phase. More information concerning Phytopharm's activities can be found on its Web site at http://www.phytopharm.co.uk Recently representatives from the San Council and the CSIR announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding linked to the P57 project. The press release related to the announcement can be accessed on http://www.csir.co.za/plsql/ ptl0002/PTL0002_PGE013_MEDIA_REL?MEDIA_RELEASE_NO=1800500 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange