Investment in Another Company

Oxford Technology 2 VCT PLC
16 January 2001


                               Astron Clinica Ltd
                                    £250,000

Oxford  Technology 2 VCT and ETCapital have made a total investment of  £650,000
in  Astron Clinica Ltd, developers of the SIAscope, a novel non-invasive  system
for imaging skin and diagnosing skin cancer (malignant melanoma). ETCapital, who
led  the  investment,  has invested £400,000 through its QTP  fund,  and  Oxford
Technology  2  VCT  has invested £250,000. The funds will  be  used  to  support
further  clinical  trials to develop the diagnosis of other diseases,  establish
distribution  channels worldwide, and achieve approvals for the US  market.  The
investment has been made for a total of 12.4% of the equity. James Mallinson  of
ETCapital has joined the board of Astron Clinica.

Astron  Clinica,  based  in  Toft near Cambridge,  UK,  owns  the  patented  SIA
technology,  originally  developed at the University of Birmingham.  Mike  Cane,
managing  director  of Astron Clinica, said 'I am absolutely delighted  to  have
completed  this round of investment which will enable us to move  ahead  rapidly
with  our  international development plans. The response  of  the  international
medical  community to the SIAscope has been tremendous. SIA  technology  means
earlier  and  more  accurate diagnosis of a potentially  life  threatening  skin
cancer,  helping patients and reducing overall care costs. The SIAscope provides
a  significantly  quicker  and more reliable method to  analyse  suspect  moles,
minimising patient anxiety. We are now eager for the public to benefit from this
latest diagnostic technology'.

James Mallinson of ETCapital said 'The commitment and professionalism of Mike
Cane and  his  team  has impressed us all along. We believe that Astron Clinica 
will become a world class business based its first class technology and its
excellent management team'.

Contact details:

AstronClinica       Mike Cane                    Tel [phone]
Astron Clinica ( www.astronclinica.com ) was founded in 1998.  Dr Symon  Cotton,
the inventor of the SIA technology (Spectrophotometric Intracutaneous Analysis),
is technical director of the company. Mike Cane is managing director and Douglas
McGregor is executive chairman.

ETCapital           James Mallinson              Tel [phone]
ETCapital, the Oxford and Cambridge-based technology investor,
www.etcapital.com, makes investments of between £20,000 and £500,000 in
innovative businesses with excellent technology and capable management. It made
this investment from QTP, a fund in which HSBC Bank and the European Investment
Bank are principal investors.

Oxford Technology 2 VCT Matthew Frohn            Tel [phone]
Oxford Technology 2 VCT (www.Qxfordtechnology.com ) raised £6.0m in April 2000
with  the  aim  of investing this in 20-25 innovative early-stage  and  start-up
technology companies generally within a 60 mile radius of Oxford.