March 10, 2004 - EAGAN, MN - Hankintatukku Oy, the largest manufacturer of natural products in Finland, has introduced Immunoglucan^®, a nutritional supplement designed to support healthy immune function. The new product’s active ingredient is WGP^® Beta Glucan from Biopolymer Engineering, Inc.

WGP Beta Glucan is a patented yeast beta 1,3/1,6 glucan that clinical and preclinical studies have shown can safely enhance the immune system. WGP Beta Glucan primes key innate immune cells called macrophages and neutrophils, which are the body’s first line defense against a broad range of challenges.

“Hankintatukku is a leading European natural products company and we are pleased that it has selected WGP Beta Glucan as an ingredient in its high quality products,” said Richard G. Mueller, president and chief executive officer of Biopolymer Engineering.

Hankintatukku Oy is Finland's largest manufacturer of natural products and a market leader in its field. Founded in 1982 and based in Helsinki, the company exports more than 300 natural products and herbal preparations to 40 countries in Europe, North and South America and the Far East. Its product groups include vitamin preparations, mineral and trace element preparations, lecithin and oil preparations, slimming and other special preparations, proteins and other body-building preparations, liquids, registered herbal products, natural product cosmetics, herbal teas and small animal preparations together with special sweets and chewing gums.
Website: www.hankintatukku.com.

Biopolymer Engineering, Inc. is a biotechnology company that is pioneering carbohydrate solutions to improve human health. Based in Eagan, Minnesota, the company has more than 40 US patents and patents pending, with additional filings in more than 20 countries that protect its yeast beta glucan products and compounds. Biopolymer Engineering is developing beta glucan applications for pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, functional foods, cosmetics and animal feed and nutrition. Website: www.biopolymer.com.

The company’s commercial products are distributed in the U.S. through E.T. Horn. In Europe and Japan, Biopolymer Engineering has an exclusive partnership with DKSH, a leading International Marketing and Services Group (www.dksh.com), to introduce WGP Beta Glucan. The services of DKSH include marketing, sales, project management, distribution, research and development and registration options.

For more information, contact:

David Walsh
Biopolymer Engineering, Inc.
651-256-4606
dwalsh@biopolymer.com