Disease Sciences Announces Sensitive Detection of Prion Protein in About 1 mL of Human Urine.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 2002

Disease Sciences, Inc. (OTC BB: DSSC) announces preliminary results on the patented urine test it has been validating for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies ("TSE").

The most common are Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ("BSE") in cattle, (commonly known as "mad-cow disease"), Scrapie in sheep, Chronic Wasting Disease ("CWD") in wild deer and elk and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease ("CJD") in humans. The scientists working on this project have achieved sensitive detection of PrP in about 1mL of human urine. The only other known studies have claimed detection of PrP in as much as 10-50 mL of urine, but have not been able to be duplicated to date.

The major component of the pathogen responsible for these fatal Prion diseases is an abnormal, protease-resistant isoform of Prion protein (PrP). Currently, definitive diagnosis of prion diseases can only be made after the detection of the abnormal isoform of PrP in brian tissue obtained through biopsy or autopsy. These methods are incapable for routine diagnosis of prion disease since they are invasive, inconvenient or unpractical.

Ongoing experiments are focused on parallel comparisons of biochemical and structural properties of PrP between normal individuals and those infected with CJD. Our results represent an analysis of possible changes in molecular profile of PrP and other potential surrogate markers in urine. We will continue the validation of the test with infected specimens.

"We are very pleased with these breakthrough results. Such extreme sensitivity should make the validation of the test easier," stated Dr. Wayne Goldstein, CEO.

The Urine diagnostic test kit was patented and developed by Bio-Tec Global. Disease Sciences will receive royalties on sales for its part in the validation of the test kit.

About Disease Sciences Inc.

Disease Sciences, Inc. is a developmental stage biopharmaceutical/clinical diagnostics Company. Its primary goal will be the development of drugs through its subsidiary, HealthSpan Sciences, Inc. HealthSpan Sciences, is developing small-molecule pharmaceutical products that fight age-related or degenerative diseases by attacking the underlying biochemical origins of degenerative processes. The Company's main focus is on life-enhancing pharmaceuticals that treat cardiovascular disease, cancer, and persistent infections. Also, the Company plans to use a broad array of technologies to detect, identify and quantify substances in blood or other bodily fluids and tissues. Its goal will be a Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy ("TSE") test, useful in the diagnosis of TSE diseases such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy ("BSE") in cattle, (commonly known as "mad-cow disease"), Scrapie in sheep, Chronic Wasting Disease ("CWD") in wild deer and elk and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease ("CJD") in humans. Test results are to be used in the diagnosis, detection, evaluation, monitoring and potential treatment of diseases and other medical conditions. The Company plans to derive its revenues from patent sub-licensing fees, drug development, royalties from pharmaceutical sales, appropriate milestone payments and research and development contracts. The Company, maintains a website at www.diseasesciences.com.

The foregoing press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by such terminology such as "expects", "potential", "will", "suggests", "may", or similar expression. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. In particular, management's expectations regarding future research development results could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and product development; availability of future financing; unexpected regulatory delays or government regulation generally; the Company's ability to obtain or maintain patent and other proprietary intellectual property protection; and competition in general. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date of the forward-looking statements are made.