HAMBRECHT & QUIST 16th ANNUAL HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE, SAN FRANCISCO,
Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Trega Biosciences is a presenter at the 1998 Hambrecht
& Quist Conference:
    Robert S. Whitehead, president and chief executive officer of Trega
Biosciences, Inc., (Nasdaq:TRGA) will discuss the company's mission and
strategy for becoming a tier-1, fully integrated drug discovery company.
    Trega has recently enhanced its combinatorial chemistry technology by
changing the format in which it synthesizes and screens its chemical libraries
from pools or mixtures of compounds to individual or single-based arrays.
Integrating the company's expertise in combinatorial chemistry and
melanocortin biology, Trega has initiated internal discovery programs in the
areas of obesity and inflammation. Melanocortins are a series of five known
receptors that play an important role in inflammatory conditions, such as pain
and asthma, as well as in metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and obesity.
In June 1997 Trega entered into a collaboration with Ono Pharmaceuticals to
discover an agonist at melanocortin-1 receptor. The company plans to complete
a partnership in 1998 around melanocortin-4 receptor to discover small
molecules for the treatment of obesity.  HP 228, the most advanced of Trega's
melanocortin agonists, is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of
acute pain associated with surgery.
    Mr. Whitehead will present how Trega's technology base and business model
will potentially enable the company to reach near-term cash self sufficiency
via two approaches: 1) uncoupling its combinatorial chemistry technology
platform from its internal discovery efforts and providing these tools to an
expanding range of partners for generating near-term revenues and 2)
conducting drug discovery and early-stage development in concert with major
pharmaceutical partners for research support and substantial longer term
milestones and royalties.
    Mr. Whitehead will update conference attendees on Trega's technical
platform, its business strategy and its longer-term growth objectives.
    Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including whether any proposed product can be
successfully formulated, scaled-up, developed and commercialized, whether
regulatory approvals can be obtained, the impact of competitive products and
pricing, whether any corporate collaborations or alliances will be successful,
and other risks detailed from time to time in Trega's Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) filings.  These forward-looking statements represent Trega's
judgment as of the date of this release.  Actual results may differ materially
from those projected.  Trega disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.

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