Xechem Intl. (fka ZKEM)

[WillyWizard]

Today's News

(BSNS WIRE) Xechem Announces Issuance of a New Australian Patent for Second
Xechem Announces Issuance of a New Australian Patent for Second Generation
Paclitaxel Analogs


Business/Health Editors

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 2001--Xechem
International, Inc. (OTC BB: ZKEM) today announced that the
Commissioner of Patents, Commonwealth of Australia Patent Office,
granted a second Australian Patent, Patent No. 724929, on January
25th, 2001 to Xechem for its paclitaxel analogs, preparation and use
as antitumor agents.
According to Xechem's President & CEO, Dr. Ramesh Pandey, "We are
very pleased to receive the second Australian patent on the paclitaxel
analogs (also called second generation paclitaxel). This is another
example of Xechem's commitment to protect its intellectual property in
its growing portfolio of the innovative paclitaxel analogs. We still
have over 30 patents pending in this area, as we proceed further into
the year 2001 and beyond, we expect many more U.S. and international
patents to be issued."

Xechem International, Inc., headquartered in New Brunswick, NJ,
with subsidiary companies in USA, India and joint venture partners in
both Hong Kong and Peoples Republic of China, is a biopharmaceutical
company of which Xechem, Inc. (a US subsidiary) is engaged in the
research, development and production of generic and proprietary drugs
from natural sources, specializing in the development of
niche-generic, difficult to replicate anticancer, antiviral (including
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus, HIV) and antifungal compounds. The
Company also screens extracts and pure compounds from China and India
for their therapeutic use. (See press release of February 14, 2001)
XetaPharm(TM)(another U.S. subsidiary) develops quality controlled
nutritional products such as GinkgoOnce(R), GinsengOnce(R),
GarlicOnce(R), Gugulon(TM), and Co-Enzyme Q-10 and numerous products
that are under development. (www.xetapharm.com)
This and past press releases of Xechem International, Inc. are
available at Xechem's web site at www.xechem.com.
For further information, contact the President and Chief Executive
Officer, Dr. Ramesh C. Pandey at (732) 247 - 3300.

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements
relating to Xechem's future business performance within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended
to be covered by safe harbors created hereby. Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, including
the ability of the Companies to successfully develop and commercialize
their technologies, and other factors that may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the Companies to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements of the
Companies expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

--30--jeh/ny* csm

CONTACT: Xechem International, New Brunswick
Dr. Ramesh C. Pandey, 732/247-3300

KEYWORD: NEW JERSEY
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BIOTECHNOLOGY LEGAL/LAW MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL
PRODUCT

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