SAN DIEGO, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular
Studies (TPIMS) and Houghten Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (HPI) (Nasdaq: HPIP) today
announced that TPIMS has received U.S. Patent No. 5,556,762 for a new drug
discovery technology, termed PositionalScan.  This technology permits the
rapid identification of highly active individual compounds from "libraries"
containing thousands to hundreds of thousands of other compounds, and has been
licensed to HPI for use in its internal and collaborative combinatorial
chemistry programs.
    "PositionalScan is a screening method that allows highly active compounds
to be identified in a very short period of time.  This method, along with
other combinatorial chemistry technologies is changing the way drug discovery
is carried out by decreasing the time, and thereby the costs, required to
identify potential drug candidates," said Dr. Richard A. Houghten, president
of TPIMS, chief technical officer of HPI and an inventor on the patent.  The
other inventors are Dr. Clemencia Pinilla and Jon Appel, both scientists at
TPIMS.
    Robert S. Whitehead, president and chief executive officer of HPI, noted,
"Current and prospective partners are excited by the potential utility of the
PositionalScan technology to accelerate the identification and optimization of
lead compounds."
    HPI utilizes combinatorial chemistry for the discovery of novel, small
molecule drug therapies.  HPI uses these technologies in its internal
discovery programs, in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies in exchange
for fees and potential milestone payments and royalties, and in joint
discovery alliances with biotechnology firms wherein HPI has certain potential
product ownership rights.
    TPIMS is a nonprofit biomedical research institute focused on the
development of combinatorial chemistry techniques that can be applied to all
compound types.  Using combinatorial chemistry, TPIMS scientists have
discovered compounds with a broad range of potential therapeutic applications,
including potential antibiotics, analgesics and immunodiagnostic tools.
    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 patent, once obtained, can be
defended, whether any potential procedure or process can be successfully
utilized or commercialized, whether regulatory approval can be obtained,
whether any collaborations or alliances will be successful, and other rules
detailed from time to time in HPI's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings.
    These forward-looking statements represent HPI's judgment as of the date
of this release.  Actual results and conditions may differ materially from
those projected.  HPI disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update
these forward-looking statements.

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