Phase I Clinical Trials

Phytopharm PLC
20 January 2003


20 January 2003                                

                                 Phytopharm plc


Commences phase I clinical study of treatment for Parkinson's disease

Phytopharm plc (PYM: London Stock Exchange) ('Phytopharm') announces today the
start of a phase I clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and
pharmacokinetic profile of its patented oral product, P63, which is under
development as a treatment for neurodegenerative disorders, including
Parkinson's disease.

This residential study will be conducted in two stages, each utilising a double
blind, placebo-controlled design.  The first stage will evaluate the safety,
tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single oral doses that will be escalated
across four groups of eight healthy subjects.  The second stage will assess the
safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of repeated oral dosing administered
over 7 days to three groups of eight healthy subjects aged over 50 years.  Each
group will be assigned a different dose level.  It is expected that the results
will be reported during the second quarter of 2003.

Phytopharm has developed a large group of patented compounds whose properties
form a platform for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for
neurodegenerative disorders.  These properties include the restoration of
neuronal growth factors, the increase in neuronal interconnections, the reversal
of neuronal receptor decline including dopamine receptors, and protection
against the effects of a neurotoxin that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson's
disease in man.

Dr Richard Dixey, Chief Executive of Phytopharm, said: 'The onset of neuronal
degeneration underlies Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease and many other
peripheral neuropathies. This product arising from our family of 60 patented
compounds offers the potential of directly reversing this process, and
significantly advancing the treatment of these devastating conditions.'



                                     -ENDS-

Enquiries:



Phytopharm plc
 Dr Richard Dixey, Chief Executive                     Tel:        [phone]
                                                       Mobile:     [phone]
Financial Dynamics
 David Yates /                                         Tel:        [phone]
 Ben Atwell


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.

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease are chronic, progressive
conditions that predominantly affect the middle aged and elderly, causing severe
disability and premature death. In the US market alone, there are estimated to
be one million patients with diagnosed Parkinson's disease and a further two
million undiagnosed, with a cost to the economy of $10 billion in associated
health care costs (source: AHP submission to US Congress).

Despite substantial progress in our understanding of these conditions over
recent years, in most cases the underlying cause(s) remain unknown.  The
currently available drug therapies can provide symptomatic improvement and in
some cases may delay disease progression to a modest extent.  The medical,
social and economic impact of these diseases is increasing, particularly in the
developed world, due to the ageing population.

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.



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