Blood test for Stroke

Proteome Sciences PLC
2 May 2002



                             PROTEOME SCIENCES plc

                                 PRESS RELEASE


                  Proteome Sciences Announces High Specificity

                             Blood Test for Stroke

                                                                   2nd May, 2002


Proteome Sciences plc ('Proteome Sciences') a leading company in proteomics and
gene expression, announces the release of highly significant results from new
data for its stroke marker in blood that should now enable the test to be used
in clinical applications. No such test is currently available.

Using high sensitivity protein separation techniques, Proteome Sciences has
identified biomarkers in blood to diagnose stroke and which can also
differentiate between stroke and heart attack (AMI). The latest data shows that
the assay has high specificity (100%) sensitivity (68.2%) and positive
predictive accuracy (100%) in a non-invasive procedure. These results will be
provided to the short list of strategic licensing partners currently in active
discussions with Proteome Sciences over licensing and commercialisation.

Stroke is a major cause of death worldwide and is the third leading cause of
death in the USA where the total annual cost is $30bn with 160,000 deaths and
approximately 750,000 Americans having new or recurrent strokes.

In addition to the current research focus in stroke to differentiate between
ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, Proteome Sciences announced in February that
it had entered into a collaborative research agreement with ReNeuron Holdings
plc (neural stem cell technology) to identify proteins expressed in brain repair
in response to stroke as possible therapeutics or drug targets.

Proteome Sciences' stroke programme demonstrates the broad flexibility and
utility of proteomics in addressing major areas of unmet need in disease and by
developing applications for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes
using leading edge technology and skills to deliver results in a timely and
effective manner.

Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive of Proteome Sciences said :

'We are very encouraged by the excellent results obtained from the University
Cantonal Hospital, Geneva in specificity and predictive accuracy for the stroke
test. This should accelerate the rapid development of a blood test for clinical
applications and will allow us to concentrate our research more fully on
differentiating between the two types of stroke, haemorrhagic and ischaemic. In
combination with our collaboration with ReNeuron plc, this gives Proteome
Sciences a major mandate in the field of stroke diagnosis, prognosis and drug
targets for therapeutic treatment'.


                                    - Ends -


For further information please contact:

Proteome Sciences plc           Tel : [phone]

Christopher Pearce, Chief Executive     E-Mail : [e-mail]

www.proteome.co.uk



Public Relations for Proteome Sciences

Ikon Associates

Adrian Shaw                     Tel : [phone]

Mobile : + 44(0) 797 9900733

E-Mail : [e-mail]



Notes to Editors

Proteome Sciences plc applies high sensitivity proteomics to identify and
characterise differential protein expression in diseases for diagnostic,
prognostic and therapeutic applications. It has to date developed sensitive
blood assays for stroke, nvCJD, BSE and solid organ transplantation.

The main focus of its research currently addresses neurological,
neurodegenerative, diabetes/obesity, oncology and cardiovascular conditions.
Commercialisation of these programmes will be effected through strategic
partnerships.

Proteome Sciences is also the largest shareholder in Intronn Inc., the US
Company that has developed SMaRTTM, a technology able to modify gene expression
at the mRNA level.


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