Calgary, Alberta
November 13, 2001

Repayable contribution will support development of Company's Plant-Based Pharmaceutical Production Platform

SemBioSys Genetics Inc., a Calgary-based biotechnology company, announced today that it will
receive a CAN $5,522,607 repayable contribution from Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC). The funding will be used to further develop the Company's proprietary plant protein production systems for use of the production of pharmaceutical and other products.

"The funding from TPC will ensure that we are able to fully develop our technology platform, said SemBioSys President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Baum. "It will leverage the $Can 16.5 million that we received from our investors, and help ensure that we have the resources necessary to meet our partners needs." SemBioSys completed a private Series A financing with a syndicate led by Bay City Capital through its North American Nutrition and Agribusiness Fund in November of last year. Other investors in the Series A round included Ventures West, Business Development Bank of Canada, and Royal Bank Capital Partners.

SemBioSys is using a variety of genetic engineering technologies to express proteins in the seeds of safflower. One embodiment of the technology involves the covalent attachment of proteins to oil bodies, natural oil storage organelles found in oilseeds. Taking advantage of the simple physical principle that oil is lighter than water, oil bodies can be easily separated from the majority of other seed components. This provides a cost-effective solution for bulk protein production and purification. The technology is amenable for oral and topical delivery of bioactive peptides and proteins. The Company operates a pilot manufacturing facility that can deliver oil body-based products and purified protein at scale.

SemBioSys' has established partnerships with Syngenta, Metabolic Pharmaceuticals and a multinational fine chemical manufacturer. In addition to the Series A Syndicate other investors include Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc., University Technologies International, and scientific founder Dr. Maurice Moloney.