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Isotechnika's Phase III psoriasis trial achieves clinical endpoints

    EDMONTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Isotechnika Inc. announced
today the unblinded 12 week data for the Company's Canadian Phase III
psoriasis trial for its lead immunosuppressive drug, ISA247.

    A Summary of the results is as follows:

    -  The study met all primary and secondary efficacy endpoints determined
       at 12 weeks
    -  Efficacy endpoints were achieved with minimal side effects
    -  No clinically significant differences in mean serum creatinine and
       glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were observed amongst the four
       treatment groups at 12 weeks

    The Canadian Phase III Psoriasis (SPIRIT) trial commenced on December 2,
2004 and included a total of 453 patients with stable moderate to severe
plaque psoriasis. The trial was conducted at 32 sites over a 24 week period
using orally administered ISA247 in psoriatic patients. This randomized,
double-blind trial examined the efficacy of three dosing groups of ISA247
(0.2 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg and 0.4 mg/kg) administered twice daily compared to
placebo with equal numbers of patients assigned to each of the four treatment
groups.
    "Our goal was to create a drug with a superior safety and efficacy
profile compared to other medications used to treat psoriasis," stated Dr.
Randall Yatscoff, Isotechnika's President and COO. "We are pleased to have
achieved these goals in the interim data analysis which indicates the presence
of a therapeutic window. It is very encouraging to see that our 24 week
endpoints were achieved at the 12 week point of the trial."
    In the high dose group, 48% of the patients achieved a PASI 75 score and
72% achieved a PASI 50 score. Furthermore, in the mid dose group 24% and 47%
of the patients achieved PASI 75 and PASI 50 scores, respectively. Both the
PASI 50 and PASI 75 scores were clinically significant (p less than 0.05)
versus placebo. The mean percentage reduction in the PASI scores of the high
dose group and the mid dose group were 62.5% and 44.0%, respectively.
    Incidences of treatment-related adverse events in patients receiving
ISA247 were similar to those receiving placebo. Additionally, there were no
clinically significant changes noted in any of the parameters monitored
including hypertension, cholesterol, triglycerides and infectious
complications analyzed for the interim report. The highest mean change in
serum creatinine at 12 weeks was 5% above baseline in the high dose (0.4 mg/kg
twice daily) group. This mean percentage change is not clinically significant
as it is within normal analytical and physiological variation. After 12 weeks
of treatment, a total of five patients, (four in the high dose (4%) and one in
the mid dose (1%)) were withdrawn from the trial due to a clinically
significant effect on kidney function.
    "The results with ISA247 indicate that efficacy equals that of the best
treatments presently available for severe psoriasis. This study positions
ISA247 as a possible first line therapy for severe psoriasis while providing a
side-effect profile not different from placebo," states Dr. Gilles Lauzon,
Director of the Division of Dermatology at the University of Alberta.
    The management team will provide an overview of the unblinded interim
Phase III psoriasis data to the investment community this morning commencing
at 9:00 a.m. ET/ 7:00 a.m. MT. All Interested parties can access the live web
cast (listen only mode) by entering
http://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/index.cgi?okey(equal sign)64134 in their web
browser. Alternatively, you may access the web cast through our corporate Web
site at http://www.isotechnika.com. The web cast will be archived for a six month
period through the web cast archives at http://www.newswire.ca.

    About Isotechnika Inc.
    ----------------------

    Isotechnika Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company
headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Drawing upon its expertise in
medicinal chemistry and immunology, the Company is focused on the discovery
and development of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics that are safer than
currently available treatments. Its entrepreneurial management and world-class
team of scientists are building a pipeline of immunosuppressive drug
candidates for treatment of autoimmune diseases and for use in the prevention
of organ rejection in transplantation. Isotechnika looks to become the leader
in development of immunosuppressant therapies.
    Isotechnika's lead compound, ISA247 is an immunosuppressant currently in
a Canadian Phase III human clinical trial for the treatment of moderate to
severe psoriasis. In addition, ISA247 has successfully completed a Phase IIa
trial for kidney transplantation. The Company also has two additional
immunosuppressive compounds in its drug pipeline, TAFA93 and TKB662 which are
in Phase I and pre-clinical respectively.
    In addition to the Company's drug pipeline, Isotechnika also has a
diagnostic division, which includes the Helikit(R) and Diatest(R) breath kits.
The Helikit(R) a (13)C urea breath test is used for the detection of
H. pylori, a bacterium that infects a large portion of the population. The
Diatest(R) a (13)C glucose breath test is used to measure insulin resistance.
    Isotechnika Inc. is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock
Exchange under the symbol ISA. More information on Isotechnika can be found at
http://www.isotechnika.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    --------------------------

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-
looking statements, including the Company's belief as to the potential of its
products, the Company's expectations regarding the issuance of additional
patents and the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property,
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the
Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-
looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the
availability of funds and resources to pursue research and development
projects, the ability to economically manufacture its products, the potential
of its products, the success and timely completion of clinical studies and
trials, the Company's ability to successfully commercialize its products, the
ability of the Company to defend its patents from infringement by third
parties, and the risk that the Company's patents may be subsequently shown to
be invalid or infringe the patents of others. Investors should consult the
Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Canadian commissions for
additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-
looking statements. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.



SOURCE Isotechnika Inc.




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CONTACT:
Dr. Randall Yatscoff, President & COO,
Isotechnika Inc., Phone: (780) 487-1600 Ext. 246, Fax: (780)
484-4105, Email: ryatscoff@isotechnika.com; Stephanie
Gillis-Paulgaard, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications,
Isotechnika Inc., Phone: (780) 487-1600 Ext. 243, Fax: (780)
484-4105, E-mail:sgillis-paulgaard@isotechnika.com