SAN DIEGO, April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Protein Polymer Technologies,
Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PPTI) announced today the appointment of Donald S.
Kaplan, Ph.D. as President and Chief Operating Officer, effective today.
J. Thomas Parmeter will remain Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
    Dr. Kaplan, age 57, has served as Protein Polymer Technologies Senior
Advisor, Adhesives and Sealants, since April 2003, directing product
development for the surgical adhesive and sealant program.  Previously, Dr.
Kaplan was Senior Vice President, Operations and Technology at United States
Surgical Corporation (now a subsidiary of Tyco, Inc.), where he was
responsible for research and development, quality control, regulatory affairs
and manufacturing.  Prior to U.S. Surgical, Dr. Kaplan was Head of Research
and Development at ORMCO, a division of American Hospital Supply and Manager
of R&D for Davis and Geck, then a division of American Cyanamid.  He holds a
B.S. degree from Fairleigh Dickenson University, a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry
from Adelphi University, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Engineering
at the California Institute of Technology.
    "For the past year, Dr. Kaplan has directed surgical adhesive and sealant
product development where he has successfully advanced the initial sealant
product through its research and formulation development.  As President and
Chief Operating Officer, he will lead Protein Polymer through its next stage
of development with a primary focus on the completion of the clinical trials
for our tissue augmentation products and the continued development and testing
of our surgical sealant and adhesive products," commented J. Thomas Parmeter,
Chairman.  "In my new role, I will concentrate on corporate fund raising
efforts, financial and investor communications, and new business development
initiatives."
    Dr. Kaplan, President, noted, "Protein Polymer is at a key stage in its
evolution and I firmly believe that over the next two years we will be
positioned to complete regulatory approvals, establish strategic marketing
alliances and commence product sales for the tissue augmentation and sealant
products.  Protein Polymer's scientific team has developed a tremendous,
proprietary technology base that, I believe, can be directed into a wide
variety of medical and surgical products to address very large market
opportunities.  PPTI, by combining traditional polymer chemistry and modern
biology into a new class of bio-active materials, has the potential to
revolutionize the design and utility of medical devices.  Drawing upon my
extensive background in the development of surgical products, I am delighted
to join the PPTI team and look forward to helping build this medical products
company."

    Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc. is a San Diego-based company focused on
developing bioactive products to improve medical and surgical outcomes. From
its inception in 1988, PPTI has been a pioneer in protein design and
synthesis, developing an extensive portfolio of proprietary biomaterials.
These genetically engineered biomaterials are high molecular weight proteins,
processed into products with physical and biological characteristics tailored
to specific clinical performance requirements. Targeted products include
urethral bulking agents for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence,
dermal augmentation products for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, surgical
adhesives and sealants, scaffolds for wound healing and tissue engineering,
and depots for local drug delivery. To date, PPTI has been issued twenty-five
U.S. Patents on its core technology with corresponding issued and pending
patents in key international markets.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on
management's views and expectations. Actual results could differ materially
from those expressed here; further, the Company is not obligated to comment
specifically on those differences. Risks associated with the Company's
activities include raising adequate capital to continue operations scientific
and product development uncertainties, competitive products and approaches,
continuing collaborative partnership interest and funding, regulatory testing
and approvals, and manufacturing scale up.  The reader is encouraged to refer
to the Company's 2002 and 2003 Annual Report Form 10-KSB and other recent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are
available from the Company, to further ascertain the risks associated with the
above statements.

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