ST. LOUIS, May 3, 2004 – Biopolymer Engineering, Inc. will be featured among the most promising Midwest biotechnology companies beginning today at the annual BIO Mid-America VentureForum, which attracts venture capitalists from across the nation.

Sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), this year's conference is being held May 3-5 at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis. Co-sponsors include 10 state biotechnology associations: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

"The Midwest has hundreds of promising biotech companies, and a higher concentration of medical device companies than any other region in the U.S.," said Morrie Ruffin, BIO's vice president for business development. "The BIO Mid-America VentureForum offers investment professionals a unique opportunity to interact directly with the management teams of dozens of these fund-seeking companies, as well as learn valuable insight from recognized leaders in various health science industries.”

Biopolymer Engineering, which is developing pharmaceuticals to enhance the effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies to fight cancer, is one of only five Minnesota companies selected to present at the conference.

“We are pleased with an opportunity to present our cancer research to the venture capital community,” said Daniel Conners, chairman and founder of Biopolymer Engineering. “Recent studies support our compounds significantly increasing the effectiveness of complement-activating monoclonal antibodies in killing cancer cells.”

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. Website: www.bio.org.

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 U.S. 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.

For more information, contact:

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