Samaritan Showcases Brand New Drug Candidates for Alzheimer's and AIDS Related Dementia to Attract Partners at BIO 2003

		SAMARITAN PHARMACEUTICALS CORPORATE LOGO Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Georgetown University, develops and strives to commercialize scientific breakthrough innovations for: Alzheimer's (AD) Drugs, to inhibit glucocorticoid-mediated neurotoxicity, an Animal Model to test AD drugs, an AD Diagnostic; a Breast Cancer Diagnostic; a peptide to bind Cholesterol and a late stage Phase II statistically significant HIV drug. Samaritan's patented pipeline is built on a, cholesterol-metabolism and glucocorticoid-biosynthesis, technology platform which is scientifically considered to be a successful therapeutic approach. (PRNewsFoto)[AS] LAS VEGAS, NV USA

Breakthrough Drug Candidates That Could Change the Way Alzheimer's and AIDS Patients Are Treated BIO 2003 is the Largest Gathering of Biotechnology Leaders in the World and Has Emerged as the Single Most Important Forum for Bringing Players Together WASHINGTON, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Samaritan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SPHC) and Samaritan Research Labs, Georgetown University, announced today it has scheduled numerous one on one meetings with top pharmaceutical Companies throughout the BIO 2003 "Thinking Beyond Tomorrow" Convention, June 22-25, 2003, Washington, DC. The annual convention expects to draw over 15,000 biotechnology executives, politicians, scientists and reporters. The Business Partnering Forum gives Samaritan an extraordinary opportunity to meet with major pharmaceuticals around the world, in one place and at one time, to learn about each other and discuss business opportunities of mutual interest for potential partnering deals. Promising Alzheimer's Drug Candidates Being Presented Background for Alzheimer's thesis: Cortisol, the stress hormone, is the main hormone associated with immunity, memorization and learning with excessive cortisol being well known to produce cognitive impairment. Why do we care: It is estimated that 16 million Americans will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's by 2050. Early diagnosis and treatment with Cortisol modulating drugs before the onset of symptoms could possibly lengthen the progression of Alzheimer's whereas a patient might die of natural causes rather than Alzheimer's. Promising Alzheimer's Drug Candidates: -- SP001 -- SP010 -- SP222 -- SP223 -- SP232 -- SP238 Patent Title: -- Neuroprotective spirostenol pharmaceutical compositions. -- Methods and compositions for modulating serum cortisol levels. Journals: -- Journal of Neurochemistry, 2002, 83:1110-1119 -- Endocrine Society 2003, abstract. Stem Cell Therapy for Alzheimer's, Neuron Differentiation Background: Stem cell therapy, the manipulation of stem cells to combat disease, is on the threshold of a new era in medicine. Neuronal stem cells can be induced to rapidly differentiate to adult neuron cells as a novel treatment for Alzheimer's. Promising Stem Cell Drug Candidates: -- SP222b -- SP237 New Alzheimer's Pharmacologic (Rat) Model Tool: Brand New Tool-Used by pharmaceuticals to test their preventive, stabilizing or curative therapies under development for Alzheimer's. Advantage: Pharmacologic. Only four weeks to induce full blown Alzheimer's disease compared to lengthy transgenics. Alzheimer's Predictive Diagnostic: Advantage: Simple blood test with 70% success rate. Patent Title: -- Neurosteroids: Markers of Alzheimer's disease pathology Journals: -- Neurobiology of Aging, 2003, 24:57-65. AIDS Related Dementia Research and Drug Candidates Background: Elevated cortisol levels are associated with many disease states of which AIDS Related Dementia is included. SP001 has proven to be a safe and effective cortisol modulator; therefore, SP001 and its bioequivalents could change the way patients are treated, either as a single agent or in combination with other conventional therapies for AIDS. Promising AIDS and Related Dementia Drug Candidates: -- SP001 -- SP010 -- SP014 -- SP016 -- SP017 Patent Titles: -- Protected Complex of Procaine ....... -- Composition of Anti-HIV Drugs and Anticortisol Compounds .......... -- Methods and Compositions for Modulating Serum Cortisol Levels .... Proof of Concept HIV FDA Phase II Study Results -- Safe, Tolerable, CD8 improvement, Cortisol modulation. -- Statistically Significant 1. Decreased HIV symptoms (Whalen Scale-Quality of Life) 2. Decreased viral load. -- Orphan drug status requested "We have yet to meet a Pharma executive who wasn't impressed with our science pipeline," commented Dr. Janet Greeson, Chairman, President and CEO of Samaritan. "We have a compelling story to present and the climate for partnering deals is warming up with a keener focus on new drug products and new ways to attack disease." (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030129/SPHCLOGO ) About Samaritan Pharmaceuticals Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Georgetown University, is working to commercialize superior new drugs that improve the quality of life and overall health of suffering patients. The Company's compelling platform technology is based on the stress hormone cortisol and its modulation. The current development programs focus on promising new neuroprotective drugs for memory loss and Alzheimer's and include "significant" positive results for its HIV FDA/Phase II clinical trial; an Alzheimer's rat model to test new drugs; an Alzheimer's Theragnostic; a Breast Cancer Theragnostic; and a Cholesterol binding Peptide. Disclaimer The company disclaims any information that is created by an outside party and endorses only information that is communicated by its press releases, filings and Web site. This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current beliefs about the potential for its drug candidates, science and technology. However, as with any biopharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks and uncertainties in the process of development and regulatory review. There are no guarantees that products will prove to be commercially successful. For additional information about the factors that affect the company's business, please read the company's latest Form 10-K filed May 15, 2003. The company undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements. Contact: Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 702/735-7001, Fax 702/737-7016 Gene Boyle, Business Development, Email GeneBoyle@aol.com Doug Bessert, Investor Relations, Email DougBessert@aol.com To receive future press releases and newsletters automatically, or for more information, visit our Web site at http://www.samaritanpharmaceuticals.com .