Sacramento, California
June 1, 2000

Ventria Bioscience today announced the recent appointment of Tom Urban as the chairman of its Board of Directors.

Ventria's mission is to utilize its world-class protein expression technology platform as a powerful tool for the development of breakthrough products that enhance and save lives.

Ventria board member and biotechnology pioneer Bill Rutter commented: "While serving as Chairman, President, and CEO of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Tom Urban had an unparalleled track record in growing and building a high value business selling premium plant-based products. Tom's intellect, business acumen, and industry experience will be invaluable to Ventria as the company's products move towards commercialization. We are very pleased to have Tom as an investor in Ventria and as its new chairman."

Mr. Urban obtained his MBA from Harvard University and joined Pioneer in 1960. During the next thirty-five years he built Pioneer into one of the world's leading seed companies. Mr. Urban is widely recognized as a business innovator who continuously delivered improved premium products to Pioneer customers world wide. Mr. Urban said of his new chairman duties: "Ventria is a unique company with powerful technology and an exciting set of products in the pipeline. Our challenge now is to transform Ventria into a highly profitable business selling products of undeniable value to its customers. Ventria has an outstanding board of directors and top-notch employees. The company is poised for tremendous growth in the years ahead, and I am honored and enthused to serve as its chairman."

Ventria Bioscience is a development-stage biotechnology company engaged in the production of recombinant proteins using its proprietary ExpressTec(TM) technology to commercialize products with applications in human and animal health. Some of the products currently under development by Ventria address a variety of human health issues, including Infectious Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, and Emphysema.