Research Update

Phytopharm PLC
10 April 2006


Company Contact:                                U.K. Investor Relations Contact:
Phytopharm plc                                  Financial Dynamics
Dr Richard Dixey                                David Yates / Ben Atwell
[phone]                                 [phone]
Dr Daryl Rees
[phone]
www.phytopharm.com


    Phytopharm successfully progresses to second stage of Joint Development
              Agreement for Hoodia gordonii extract with Unilever

                 Second stage includes clinical safety studies

GODMANCHESTER, Cambridgeshire, U.K. (10 April 2006) - Phytopharm plc (LSE: PYM;
NASDAQBB: PHYOF; PHYOY) ('Phytopharm') announces today that it has successfully
completed the first stage of the Joint Development Agreement for Hoodia gordonii
extract with Unilever and will now progress to the second stage which includes
clinical safety studies.

Under the terms of the agreement, Phytopharm and Unilever are collaborating on a
five-stage research and development programme of safety and efficacy studies
with a view to bringing new weight management products to market. As part of the
agreement announced in December 2004, Unilever committed to initial payments of
approximately £6.5 million for the first stage and for the second stage have now
committed to a further £3.5 million out of a potential total of £21 million in
payments to Phytopharm. In addition Phytopharm will receive an undisclosed
royalty on sales of all products containing the extract.  Unilever is also
managing a separate agronomy programme and supporting the international patent
programme for the products.

Phytopharm licensed the global patent rights for the extract of Hoodia gordonii,
a plant indigenous to South Africa, for incorporation into weight loss products
from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in
1997.

Commenting on today's announcement, Richard Dixey, Chief Executive Officer of
Phytopharm, said:

'We are delighted with our collaboration with one of the world's leading food
companies. Our partnership with Unilever provides a fully funded programme and
we look forward to generating royalty income from our partner's globally
recognised brands.'

Commenting on today's announcement, Kevin Povey, Project Leader at Unilever,
said:

'We are satisfied with the good progress to date and look forward to advancing
this product through clinical trials.'



                                     -ENDS-



NOTES TO EDITORS

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, with more than 1 billion
adults overweight - at least 300 million of them clinically obese - and is a
major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability
(Source: World Health Organisation).

Phytopharm plc

Phytopharm is focused on the research and development of novel pharmaceutical
and functional food products based on clinical and pre-clinical data generated
from medicinal plant extracts.  The Company has seven development programmes in
four disease areas: neurodegeneration, obesity and metabolic disease,
dermatology and inflammation and has a portfolio of two marketed veterinary
products.

More information concerning Phytopharm's activities can be found on its web site
at

                           http://www.phytopharm.com


This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 with respect to the financial condition, results
and business achievements/performance of Phytopharm and certain of the plans and
objectives of its management.  These statements are statements that are not
historical facts.  Words such as 'should', 'expects', 'anticipates', 
'estimates', 'believes' or similar expressions, as they relate to Phytopharm,
are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  By their nature, forward-
looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect
Phytopharm's current expectations and assumptions as to future events and
circumstances that may not prove accurate.  There is no guarantee that the
expected events, trends or results will actually occur.  Any changes in such
assumptions or expectations could cause actual results to differ materially from
current expectations./


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