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Pacific Pharmaceuticals Announces Patent Allowance For Cancer Immunotherapy Adjuvant

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: PHA - news) today announced that the United States Patent Office has awarded a patent allowance for the composition of matter and use of galactochitosan, the immune system stimulant used in its proprietary Cancer Immunotherapy program. Pacific holds an exclusive worldwide license to the Cancer Immunotherapy treatment, which is currently in preclinical development.

The proprietary Cancer Immunotherapy involves the co-injection of galactochitosan, a unique glycated polysaccharide, and a photosensitive infrared dye directly into a tumor, followed by illumination with a non- invasive laser. The therapy is intended to produce local tumor destruction in the primary area of treatment, and in the presence of galactochitosan, trigger an immune response which may also destroy metastases. Animal studies have shown positive results and long lasting resistance to tumor rechallenge as described by Chen et al. in Cancer Letters 115:25-30(97). The Company believes that the potential for this therapy to destroy metastatic tumors may offer a dramatic improvement in the treatment of metastatic cancers such as breast, lung and prostate.

``We are pleased to announce what represents yet another vital step for the Company,'' stated H. Laurence Shaw, M.D., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, ``as Pacific continues to identify and develop exciting technologies in cancer therapy.'' Proposed human clinical studies will initially target metastatic breast cancer in patients who have become unresponsive to conventional therapy.

Pacific Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company which acquires and develops unique and promising technologies. The Company manages these products through pre-clinical, clinical development and regulatory approval to position them for successful commercialization. Pacific Pharmaceuticals is actively engaged in the development of cancer therapies, and is currently developing a proprietary boronated porphyrin compound (BOPP) for brain cancer, and a proprietary immunotherapy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

This news release contains forward looking statements. The actual results could vary from those expected due to a variety of risks set forth from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's registration statement on Form S-3, as declared effective on September 4, 1997. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any of these forward looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE: Pacific Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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