Holding in Company

Phytopharm PLC
30 October 2001

Phytopharm PLC ('the Company')

Notification of Major Interests in Shares

The Company received the following notification from HSBC Investment Bank plc
on the 29 October 2001

'Dear Sirs

Part VI Companies Act 1985

We hereby notify you in accordance with Part VI Companies Act 1985 ('the Act')
that HSBC Investment Bank plc was as at close of business on 24 October 2001
interested in 1,334,663 ordinary shares of Phytopharm PLC ('the Shares'). Of
these interests, 9,352 were interests of a kind described in S.208(5) of the
Act

We further notify you that as at close of business on 25 October 2001, HSBC
Investment Bank plc no longer had a notifiable interest in the Shares.

HSBC Investment Bank HoIdings plc as HSBC Investment Bank plc's parent and
HSBC Holdings plc, our ultimate parent company, were also interested, and are
no longer interested by virtue of S.203 of the Act in all of the above
mentioned Shares.'



30 October, 2001

WestLB Panmure Limited