BAC is a type of non-small cell lung cancer with many unique biological and clinical characteristics. Unlike other types of lung cancer, BAC tends to spread within the lungs. If not treated in the early stages BAC is invariably fatal to patients, who die with severe pulmonary insufficiency and distress. BPT's doxorubicin inhalation product combines a unique formulation and highly efficient patented delivery system, designed to provide treatment directly to the site of the tumor. This is the lead product in BPT's growing inhaled therapy oncology franchise built around a proprietary technology platform for the treatment and prevention of respiratory tract cancers.

"BPT's new inhaled chemotherapy is expected to provide benefit to these severely ill patients without adding serious systemic toxicities," said Tony Imondi, BPT's Vice President of Regulatory and Clinical Affairs. Patients in Phase I trials who are taking doxorubicin by inhalation have tolerated the therapy with only minor side effects. "We are extremely hopeful that we will be able to achieve levels of the drug in the lungs far exceeding that obtainable by IV delivery," Imondi said.

The Phase I trial of inhaled doxorubicin is currently ongoing at several centers including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York; The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio; the University of Chicago; the University of Wisconsin; Yale University; and the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland.

BPT is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing novel inhaled drug therapies using its proprietary MysticÔ inhalation delivery system. BPT is focused on developing pulmonary drug products that provide non-invasive treatment for respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asthma, COPD, and a variety of systemic diseases. Since incorporating in April 2000, BPT, based in Columbus Ohio, has more than tripled in size, currently with 35 staff members. In addition to developing its own products, BPT has disclosed signing a series of research and development agreements including Pfizer Inc., Abbott Laboratories, SensorMedics Inc. and ViroPharma Inc.

For more information contact David Westaway, BPT Senior Vice President Oncology, at (614) 340-2325 or by e-mail at westaway@bpt-inc.com.

Battelle, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, focuses on technology development and commercialization and product development. With 7,500 employees at more than 60 locations, Battelle develops technologies and products for industry and government. Annual revenues are approximately $1 billion. For more information on Battelle and its technology forecasts, visit Battelle's web site at www.battelle.org, or contact Katy Delaney, Media Relations manager, (614) 424-5544 or delaneyk@battelle.org.