Appointment

Phytopharm PLC
14 April 2003


                                                                   14 April 2003

                                Phytopharm plc

                     Appointment of Commercial Director


Phytopharm plc (PYM: London Stock Exchange) ('Phytopharm') announces today that
Dr Wang Chong has joined the company's senior management team as Commercial
Director. Dr Chong will be responsible for the overall management of in- and
out-licensing and commercial development of Phytopharm's product pipeline.


Dr Wang Chong is a physician with over 19 years of experience in the healthcare
industry.  His previous positions have included Biotechnology Analyst at
Canaccord Capital, CEO of Osmetech plc, a UK based healthcare diagnostics
company from 1999 to 2001 and leader of UK Healthcare Initiatives at Arthur D.
Little Inc from 1996 to 1999, in which role he had responsibility for developing
corporate and global commercial strategy at Glaxo Wellcome plc and SmithKline
Beecham plc.  He holds a medical degree from King's College School of Medicine
and Dentistry, London, and an MBA from London Business School.


Dr Richard Dixey, Chief Executive of Phytopharm, said:  'Wang is an important
addition to our management team here at Phytopharm, and brings considerable
experience and expertise in the development of licensing partnerships and the
commercialisation of products.'


-ENDS-


Enquiries:


Phytopharm plc

Dr Richard Dixey, Chief Executive                      Tel:        [phone]
                                                       Mobile:     [phone]


Financial Dynamics

David Yates / Ben Atwell                               Tel:        [phone]


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 metabolic syndrome, neurodegeneration,
inflammation and dermatitis.


Phytopharm is developing ten products based on its four drug discovery platforms
of which five are in the clinic and five are in pre-clinical development. There
are also 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.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange                  BBF