Stock Market Debut

BioScience VCT plc
19 April 2002


For Immediate  Release                                     19 April 2002



                              Bioscience  Vct Plc

                               Stock Market Debut

     £6.5 million raised so far - open for subscription until 31st May 2002



BioScience VCT plc (BioScience VCT) the biotechnology-focused venture capital
trust has today commenced dealings on the London Stock Exchange, following its
successful Admission to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority (RIC:
BVP).



•       The BioScience VCT, launched at the start of November 2001, is a
biotechnology-focused venture capital trust that will enable private investors
to gain exposure to a portfolio of quoted and unquoted companies.  The
BioScience VCT, which has already raised  over £6.5 million, will be open for
subscriptions until 31st May 2002.



•       The objective of the BioScience VCT is to enable its shareholders to
invest in the highly exciting and high-growth bioscience sector. Specifically,
Bioscience VCT will:



        *      Provide shareholders with exposure to a diversified portfolio of 
               25-30 investments within the bioscience sector

        *      Benefit from the expertise of the team of advisers who have had 
               many years experience within the bioscience arena

        *      Provide investors with exposure to a sector in which future 
               revenue growth is, unlike other high-growth sectors, primarly 
               driven by the ageing population and product innovation rather 
               than general economic conditions


•       The BioScience VCT also offers substantial tax benefits to individual
investors



•       Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd is Sponsor and Stockbroker to the issue.



Commenting on today's announcement,  Dr Paul Nicholson, Chairman, said:

'I am delighted that we have been able to achieve this result in such a short
period of time and  in a difficult market. I look forward to working with the
teams at Octopus and MMI to identify attractive investment opportunities for the
BioScience VCT'.



Simon Rogerson, Director of Octopus Asset Management, appointed as the
Investment Manager to BioScience VCT further commented:

'Our dealflow has been excellent and we have identified a number of potential
investment opportunities, particularly within the bioinformatics technology and
biopharmaceutical sectors.  I look to the future with every confidence.'



For further information, please contact:


Simon Rogerson
Octopus Asset Management                                Tel: [phone]

Neil Baldwin
Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd                           Tel: [phone]

Lisa Baderoon ([e-mail])                   Mobile: [phone]
Buchanan Communications                                 Tel: [phone]





                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange