News Release Announcing Launch of Law Firm's Biotech Consulting Subsidiary
News Release

Contact:
Dr. Rosemarie Hunziker - 202-312-1133
Petri Darby - 713-286-2073

Jenkens & Gilchrist Launches Biotech Consulting Subsidiary
- “Connexon” life science consulting group represents a first in the legal world -

January 31, 2002 (Dallas, TX)…Jenkens & Gilchrist recently became the first law firm to establish a consulting subsidiary to provide services to the biotech industry. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jenkens & Gilchrist, Connexon Life Sciences Consulting, Inc. will operate from Washington, D.C. and offer business solutions in three areas:

1. Identify and help small and start-up biotech companies apply to funding sources.

2. Provide experienced research portfolio management advice for mid-size biotech companies and academic institutions.

3. Coordinate technical due diligence evaluation for investors, including large biotech and pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms.

“Like Jenkens & Gilchrist, several law firms have biotech practices,” said Bill Durbin, newly-elected chair of Jenkens & Gilchrist. “But through Connexon , we are engaging the biotech industry at the center of its existence - science – giving us a competitive marketplace advantage.”

Connexon is led by Dr. Rosemarie Hunziker, a biologist with a deep understanding of both the scientific and regulatory biotech environment. Dr. Hunziker's experience includes 15 years as a laboratory researcher and serving as a Program Manager for the Advanced Technology Program at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

In that role, Dr. Hunziker evaluated more than 500 proposals for technical quality and commercial potential, and was the federal performance monitor for selected awardees. She was a founding member of MATES (Multi-Agency Tissue Engineering Science) Working Group, a team of government officials from various agencies that funds tissue reengineering. In its short history, MATES has helped expand understanding of federal funding in this cutting edge area of biotechnology research, within government circles and the life sciences industry.

Dr. Hunziker received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, a Master of Science in Immunogenetics from Ohio State University, her PhD in Immunology from the University of Alberta, and post-doctoral training at the National Institutes of Health’s Laboratory of Immunology.

Jenkens & Gilchrist is a full-service law firm providing legal services to businesses and individuals with U.S. and international operations from offices in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Antonio, and Washington, D.C. With more than 600 attorneys nationwide Jenkens & Gilchrist serves clients worldwide in all areas of commercial activity.

A Q&A sheet and Dr. Hunziker’s bio are available upon request by contacting Petri Darby at 713-286-2073 or pdarby@jenkens.com.

- 30 -