Advanced Life Sciences Announces Issuance of a Patent for Its Anti-Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Drug

Woodridge, Ill, June 15, 2001 - Advanced Life Sciences, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for Robustaflavone to the company on May 1, 2001. The patent, #6,225,481, is for Robustaflavone, intermediates, and analogues and methods for preparation thereof. The inventors are Drs. David E. Zembower, Heping Zhang, Michael T. Flavin, and Yuh-Meei Lin.

"We congratulate Drs. Zembower, Zhang, Flavin, and Lin for their invention of this compound and its preparation," stated Karen Stec, Executive Vice President of Product Development, Advanced Life Sciences. "While expected for some time, the issuance of a patent for this drug candidate strengthens our portfolio and enhances our current strong and attractive drug pipeline," added Ms. Stec.

Robustaflavone is a novel anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) chemotherapeutic agent derived from natural sources that Advanced Life Sciences has in preclinical development. In vitro testing has confirmed that Robustaflavone demonstrates potent inhibition of HBV replication, and is believed to be an inhibitor of the viral DNA polymerase enzyme. Advanced Life Sciences has initiated in vivo efficacy and toxicity testing of Robustaflavone.

Advanced Life Sciences, Inc., based in Woodridge, Illinois (http://www.advancedlifesciences.com) is a privately held, early-stage pharmaceutical technology development company that discovers and develops therapeutic compounds to fight infection, inflammation and cancer. The company bridges the gap between academic discoveries and pharmaceutical commercialization and focuses on conditions that have significant unmet medical needs in medium sized markets.

# # #