RNS Number:9814I
M.L. Laboratories PLC
20 March 2003


For immediate release                                              20 March 2003


                               ML Laboratories PLC

     Clickhaler selected to deliver Japan's market leading asthma treatment


ML Laboratories (MLB) announces today that its respiratory drug delivery
subsidiary, Innovata Biomed (IB) has signed an agreement granting Otsuka
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka), a leading Japanese healthcare company, an
exclusive licence to deliver Japan's market leading asthma treatment, Meptin in
IB's dry powder inhaler, Clickhaler in Japan and Spain.  Meptin is currently
sold internationally by Otsuka in pressurised inhaler form.

In consideration IB will receive milestone payments and will supply inhalers to
Otsuka.

Clickhaler was selected by Otsuka following success in conducting, with IB's
cooperation, feasibility testing of a Meptin Clickhaler product the early
results of which have been presented at international meetings.

Commenting on the agreement Otsuka's Operating Officer Masuhiro Yoshitake said:

"Otsuka has been making refinements of delivery systems for our leading beta2
agonist Meptin in order to satisfy different demands and conditions of patients.
  After extensive evaluation and feasibility studies, we have chosen IB's
Clickhaler.   We strongly believe that this combination (Meptin in Clickhaler)
will provide asthma patients with the most reliable, easy-to-use solution."

IB's Managing Director Paul Ballington said:

"We are delighted that following extensive testing Otsuka have chosen Clickhaler
to deliver its leading asthma brand. This agreement adds further accreditation
to our Clickhaler platform and is an endorsement of the strength of our fully
industrialised product.  Clickhaler provides pharmaceutical companies with a
fast-to-market dry powder delivery system for their respiratory products.

"Today's announcement supports Innovata Biomed's position as one of the leading
independent providers of respiratory drug delivery technologies to the
pharmaceutical industry."

                                     -ends-







For further information please contact:


Mr. Stuart Sim            CEO, ML Laboratories PLC                             +44 (0) 1925 844 700

Ben Padovan               Weber Shandwick Square Mile                          +44 (0) 20 7067 0700
Graham Herring



More information about IB can be found at www.innovata-biomed.com

More information about ML Laboratories plc can be found at www.mllabs.co.uk



Notes to Editors:



Otsuka's beta2 agonist, procaterol hydrochloride, is marketed for the treatment of
asthma as Meptin.



Two Clickhaler products Asmasal (salbutamol) and Asmabec (beclomethasone) are
currently being marketed in Europe under the terms of a licensing agreement with
Celltech and two further asthma preparations in Clickhaler; formoterol and
budesonide, have been licensed to an un-named third party for Europe.  In
November 2002, IB announced the filing of the application for marketing
authorisation for formoterol Clickhaler in Europe, the budesonide Clickhaler
filing is anticipated in Quarter 2 2003 with launch anticipated in 2003 and 2004
respectively.



IB, through its range of dry powder inhaler and formulation developments,
provides inhaled drug delivery expertise for drug discoverers and powder
technologists.  IB's established technologies permit rapid proof-of-principle
testing and provide already industrialised fast-to-market options.





ML Laboratories plc



ML is a biopharmaceutical product development company with a development
pipeline of future products that include cancer treatments for liver, head, neck
and prostate cancer, all of which are in the clinic and a pain management
portfolio whose lead compound is being prepared to enter Phase III studies.  In
addition, ML has a portfolio of early stage related development projects which
includes DNA vaccines, cancer killing systems and targeted drug delivery.



ML's activities are supported by its existing growing income stream from
products it has successfully developed and licensed to other pharmaceutical
companies which include Baxter, Shire and Celltech.




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