Access Enters Research Collaboration On Nanoparticle Aggregate Drug Delivery Technology 

03/23/04 -- ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. (Amex: AKC) today provided an update of progress in the development of its proprietary Nanoparticle Aggregate Drug Delivery System ("Nanoparticle Aggregate Technology.") The Company also disclosed that it has entered into a research collaboration with a US major drug delivery company to assess the Nanoparticle Aggregate Technology. Due to confidentiality provisions in the Agreement, Access cannot disclose the name of the strategic partner.

The goal of the collaboration is to evaluate the utilization of Access' versatile Nanoparticle Aggregate Technology for the delivery of therapeutic proteins. The focus of the initial development project is to formulate proteins which are susceptible to degradation in the presence of solvents. The Nanoparticle Aggregate Technology is being developed primarily for the controlled release of water-soluble proteins. Access has demonstrated that these proteins can be incorporated into the aggregate in a simple cost effective manufacturing process using aqueous solutions at room temperature and that release of the protein from the nanoparticle aggregate can be tailored to meet the desired profile, allowing delivery lasting from several days, up to a projected six-month period.

Commenting on the collaboration, Kerry P. Gray, President and CEO of Access stated, "We are very pleased to be working with a highly regarded company in the field of drug delivery. Through this collaboration it is anticipated that the development of our exciting technology will be accelerated, as the partner company has significant experience developing drug delivery systems."

Drug delivery from nanoparticle aggregates is based on several independent variables including nanoparticle size and chemical composition of the particle. The nanoparticle aggregate technology allows remarkable versatility in protein loading and subsequent release. Optimization of a formulation can be achieved in a relatively short time for a given protein drug. Importantly, Access' Nanoparticle Aggregate Technology can substantially reduce the "burst release" of the protein, which occurs with other delivery systems. In preclinical animal studies the ability to control the release of the protein for periods of 3-months and greater has been established. Additional preclinical animal studies have shown that the materials used to produce the aggregates, which are included in several FDA-approved products, are biocompatible and therefore suitable for use in a drug delivery system.

Mr. Gray further commented, "Access' Nanoparticle Aggregate Technology represents one of the simplest delivery systems with great versatility for incorporating and delivering proteins. The ability to load the protein in a cost-effective manufacturing process without using solvents or polymerization and to tightly control the drug release profile are potentially very significant competitive advantages over other protein delivery technologies. Protein delivery represents an exciting and rapidly expanding market as they are being increasingly used to treat a wide variety of disease including cancer, infections, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disease."

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

Access is an emerging pharmaceutical company focused on developing both novel low development risk product candidates and technologies with longer-term major product opportunities. Access markets Aphthasol®, the only FDA-approved product for the treatment of canker sores, and is developing products for mucositis and other dermatological indications. Access is also developing unique polymer platinates for use in the treatment of cancer and has developed, in conjunction with its partner Strakan, Ltd., the marketed product Zindaclin®, which utilizes ResiDerm®, our topical zinc delivery system that provides rapid delivery and reservoir of a drug in the skin.

This press release contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to statements made relating to our Nanoparticle Aggregate Technology and the ability to commercialize this technology. These statements are subject to numerous risks, including but not limited to the uncertainties associated with research and development activities, clinical trials, our ability to raise capital, the timing of and our ability to achieve regulatory approvals, dependence on others to market our licensed products, collaborations, future cash flow, our ability to perform under our plan to regain compliance with AMEX listing standards, the timing and receipt of licensing and milestone revenues, projected future revenue growth and our ability to generate near term revenues, the future success of the Company's marketed product Aphthasol® and products in development including polymer platinate, OraDisc(TM) and our mucositis technology, our ability to develop products from our platform technologies, our ability to manufacture

amlexanox products in commercial quantities, our sales projections and the sales projections of our licensing partners, and other risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, and other reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc.