SAN DIEGO, June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Trega Biosciences, Inc.
(Nasdaq: TRGA) (formerly Houghten Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) today announced that
Fariba F. Ghodsian, Ph.D., has assumed the duties of strategic and financial
advisor and acting chief financial officer.  She replaces Terence E. McMorrow
who has resigned to pursue other opportunities.  In her role, Dr. Ghodsian
will be involved in investor relations, strategic planning and financial
operations.
    Most recently a vice president and biotechnology analyst at Lehman
Brothers, Dr. Ghodsian has held similar positions at Hancock Institutional
Equity Services and Wedbush Morgan Securities.  Prior to Dr. Ghodsian's career
as an equity analyst, she was director of business development for MedClone, a
privately held biotechnology company, and a research scientist for Allergan
Pharmaceuticals.  She also worked as a consultant for Wertheim Schroder where
she was responsible for financial analyses on certain pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, chemical and medical device companies.
    "Fariba's background in finance, research and corporate development make
her ideally suited to assist a developing company like Trega.  Her
comprehensive and strategic perspective on the industry will be invaluable as
the company pursues its development goals and the expansion of its partnering
network," stated Robert S. Whitehead, Trega's president and chief executive
officer.  "We believe her multifaceted talents will complement the skills of
the management team and we look forward to working with her."
    Dr. Ghodsian has an MBA from University of California at Los Angeles and a
Ph.D. in  biomedical engineering from Oxford University.  Subsequent to her
study at Oxford, she was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship in drug design
from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at the Harvard Medical School.  Dr.
Ghodsian has a masters of science from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and an undergraduate degree from the Israel Institute of
Technology.
    McMorrow, Trega's chief financial officer since 1994, will continue as a
consultant through the end of this month.  "During his tenure, Terry made many
significant contributions including raising more than $50 million in
venture/equity funding and playing a key role in many of our corporate
partnering activities.  On behalf of the company, I thank him for his service
and wish him the best in the future," said Whitehead.
    Trega Biosciences is a drug discovery company, utilizing combinatorial
chemistry and other technologies to pursue the discovery of novel, small-
molecule drug therapies.  The company leverages its technology platform by
entering into pharmaceutical alliances, enabling partners to access Trega's
technologies in exchange for licensing fees and potential milestone payments
and royalties, or by establishing joint-discovery alliances with biotechnology
companies.  Trega also uses its drug discovery technologies in its internal
development programs.  HP 228, the company's lead compound, is in Phase II
trials for the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

    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 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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