EAGAN, MN – January 5, 2004 – Brian Brandley, Ph.D., one of the nation’s foremost experts in carbohydrate drug development, has joined Biopolymer Engineering, Inc. as Vice President of Research Development. He has responsibility for all internal and collaborative development of the company’s patented compounds for pharmaceutical and commercial use.

Dr. Brandley’s extensive experience in carbohydrate research and drug development fits well with Biopolymer Engineering’s focus on beta 1,3/1,6 glucan compounds. His experience includes serving as:

• Director of Specialty Products Testing at Alpha Laboratories, a division of Eurofins Scientific. There he established a carbohydrate laboratory and managed the lab’s conversion to GLP.

• Managing Director and Vice President for Glyko, a carbohydrate analytical company owned by BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

• Senior Scientist and Head of the Cell Biology Laboratory at Glycomed, Inc.,
a carbohydrate drug development company based in California.

“Brian has a unique combination of extensive experience in carbohydrate
drug development and senior level expertise in research management,” said Richard G. Mueller, president and CEO of Biopolymer Engineering, Inc. “We
are confident that his contributions to Biopolymer Engineering will help us achieve our drug development and licensing goals.”

Dr. Brandley has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami and doctorate from the University of Sydney. He completed his post-doctorate
work at the Medical University of South Carolina and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His post-doctorate focus was identifying carbohydrate cell surface receptors on human cells and studying their interactions.

Researchers interested in collaborating with Biopolymer Engineering can
reach Dr. Brandley at the company headquarters at 651-675-0300.

Biopolymer Engineering, Inc. is a privately held biotechnology company
focused on developing carbohydrate technologies to improve immune health. Founded in 1997 and based in Eagan, Minnesota, the company has more
than 40 U.S. patents and patents pending, with additional filings in more
than 30 countries. Website: www.biopolymer.com.

Contact:
David Walsh
Biopolymer Engineering, Inc.
651-256-4606 (direct)
651-675-0400 (fax)
dwalsh@biopolymer.com