Appt: Broker & Joint Adviser

Phytopharm PLC
26 February 2003


26 February 2003


                                   Phytopharm plc

               Appointment of Broker and Joint Financial Adviser

Phytopharm plc, the UK-based, LSE listed botanical pharmaceuticals company,
announces today the appointment of Nomura International plc as its broker and
joint financial adviser, with immediate effect.

                                     -ENDS-

Enquiries:

Phytopharm plc
Dr Richard Dixey, Chief Executive                         Tel:     [phone]                                         
                                                       Mobile:     [phone]
Financial Dynamics
David Yates /                                             Tel:     [phone]
Ben Atwell


NOTES TO EDITORS

Phytopharm plc

Phytopharm is the leading company in the development of Botanical
pharmaceuticals. Botanicals enable the rapid clinical evaluation of plant
medicines in chronic and poorly understood diseases. Where novel modes of action
are discovered, such research can form the basis for drug discovery platforms,
which enable the development of new medicines and the isolation of single
chemical entities of clinical importance. Phytopharm has four drug discovery
platforms in full development, for metabolic syndrome, neurodegeneration,
inflammation and dermatitis.

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease are chronic, progressive
conditions that predominantly affect the middle aged and elderly, causing severe
disability and premature death. In the US market alone, there are estimated to
be one million patients with diagnosed Parkinson's disease and a further two
million undiagnosed, with a cost to the economy of $10 billion in associated
health care costs (source: AHP submission to US Congress).

Despite substantial progress in our understanding of these conditions over
recent years, in most cases the underlying cause(s) remain unknown.  The
currently available drug therapies can provide symptomatic improvement and in
some cases may delay disease progression to a modest extent.  The medical,
social and economic impact of these diseases is increasing, particularly in the
developed world, due to the ageing population.

Phytopharm is developing nine products based on its four drug discovery
platforms alongside a number of other projects in early evaluation phase.

More information concerning Phytopharm's activities can be found on its web site
                        at http://www.phytopharm.co.uk.






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