Joint Venture

Fulcrum Pharma PLC
02 September 2004

For Immediate Release                                         2nd September 2004


                   FULCRUM PHARMA AND BIOFOCUS SIGN ALLIANCE

     - Acceleration of oncology pipeline through preclinical development -

Fulcrum Pharma plc (AIM: FUL), a leading provider of drug development and
strategic outsourcing services, is pleased to announce today that it has signed
a partnership with BioFocus plc (AIM: BIO), a world leader in collaborative drug
discovery. Through this alliance Fulcrum Pharma will provide BioFocus with world
leading expertise in drug development and the potential to accelerate the
development of Biofocus's potential anti-cancer kinase lead compounds.

Under the terms of the agreement the companies will pool expertise and
resources, sharing the downstream income relative to their respective inputs.
BioFocus's early-stage compounds, with application to major cancer types, will
be progressed through lead optimisation and preclinical development with the
objective of achieving a first IND early in 2006.

This new partnership combines BioFocus's expertise in early stage drug discovery
with Fulcrum Pharma's know-how in preclinical development to drive the
progression of potential anti-cancer therapeutics into more advanced stages of
the drug discovery pipeline.

Dr Jon Court, Chief Executive of Fulcrum Pharma, said: 'We are very pleased to
be collaborating on an exciting range of compounds with potential application in
major cancer indications. This relationship combines BioFocus's high quality
drug discovery capabilities with our drug development know-how. This new
alliance with BioFocus further strengthens our partnership strategy which is
already progressing well with Addex Pharmaceuticals and BTG.'

Geoff McMillan, BioFocus's Chief Executive, said: 'We are delighted to establish
a new paradigm for drug development with such a highly expert company. This
alliance underscores our strategic intent to progress selected programmes
towards clinical development. By combining our strength in drug discovery with
Fulcrum's development expertise we not only increase the probability of success
but also shorten the timescales and share risk.'


For more information please contact:

Fulcrum Pharma plc                                               0870 710 7152
Jon Court, Chief Executive

BioFocus plc                                                      01799 533500
Geoff McMillan, Chief Executive

Buchanan Communications                                          020 7466 5000
Mary-Jane Johnson
Rebecca Skye Dietrich


Notes to editors

About Fulcrum Pharma
Fulcrum is an independent, drug development company that is the first to offer
global virtual drug development and strategic outsourcing services to the
pharmaceutical industry. The Company has expertise in the design, execution and
delivery of drug development programmes and relies on state of the art
information technology and infrastructure in the supply of its services. Through
Fulcrum's services to its clients, the Directors believe that there is the
capacity to deliver products faster and more efficiently to the global
pharmaceutical market. Fulcrum does this by using its skills in the design of
drug programmes that deliver the necessary information for decision-making and
product registration. In so doing, Fulcrum works closely with its clients to
meet their strategic R&D goals. Fulcrum Pharma is listed on the Alternative
Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange having successfully floated in
March 2000.

About BioFocus
BioFocus is a leading drug discovery company working in partnership with major
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Additionally it is developing a
portfolio of internal drug discovery programmes aimed at providing drug leads
for partnering. The company was founded in 1997 and is quoted on the Alternative
Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. BioFocus works with a wide range
of global clients and in the 2002/2003 period provided services and/or products
to 24 out of the top 30 pharmaceutical companies worldwide.


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