Pfizer

LIFESPAN BIOSCIENCES ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT WITH PFIZER
FOR ACCESS TO GPCR LOCALIZATION DATABASE

G Protein-Coupled Receptor Database Will Be Used to Identify New Targets for Drug Discovery

SEATTLE (March 6, 2000) - LifeSpan BioSciences, Inc., a leading biotechnology company specializing in gene expression profiling and localization in human diseases, today announced that they have entered into an agreement with Pfizer, Inc (NYSE:PFE) for a subscription to the first database of information on the expression and localization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).  This database will provide Pfizer and other subscribers with the ability to identify and validate new target genes for their drug discovery efforts.

Pfizer has entered into the subscription to receive early access to localization data on GPCR targets, which will be added continuously to the database throughout a two-year period.  Subscribers will have the opportunity to prioritize the list of GPCR genes to be included in the database based on their internal interests.  Access and updates to the database will be provided in real-time throughout the development period.

G protein-coupled receptors, which are extremely valuable from a pharmacological perspective, are a large family of cell-surface molecules that act as cellular receptors for many biologically active compounds and pharmaceuticals, including major drugs

"The ongoing human genome project has allowed us to identify hundreds of new GPCRs of unknown function.  Our in-house database now contains DNA and protein sequences from the majority of these genes, and many of these will prove to be important targets for future drug discovery efforts," stated Dr. Joseph P. Brown, President and CEO of LifeSpan Biosciences.

"LifeSpan provides its subscribers with detailed information on the expression and localization of these genes in normal tissues and in disease, which gives them greater insight into the function of these genes and their potential utility as targets for new drugs," added Brown.

LifeSpan is using specific antibodies together with its extensive bank of normal and pathological tissue specimens to measure expression of GPCRs in a wide range of normal and diseased tissues.  The results are interpreted by LifeSpan's in-house pathologists and used to construct a relational database, which will contain detailed information on GPCR expression in each cell type in the tissues and diseases studied, accompanied by high-resolution digital images.

"As a consequence of the genomics revolution, our customers find themselves swimming in a sea of genes.  Our molecular pathology approach provides the next generation of information that allows them to prioritize the best potential drug targets from among the many candidates that are identified by high-throughput sequencing and gene chips," said Dr. Glenna C. Burmer, LifeSpan's Chief Scientific Officer.

For more information, please visit LifeSpan's web site at www.lsbio.com, or contact Michael Tippie, Vice President of Business Development, at 206/464-1554.

About LifeSpan Biosciences, Inc.

LifeSpan Biosciences, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is a privately held company founded in 1995 that employs molecular pathology, microarray and bioinformatics technology to identify and validate targets for its pharmaceutical company customers in Europe, Asia and North America.  LifeSpan also builds human expression databases for select pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers.