[Proneuron1] PRONEURON ANNOUNCES MILESTONE PATENT FOR COPOLYMER-1 (COP-1)

[proneuron1 at list.proneuron.com]

PRONEURON ANNOUNCES MILESTONE PATENT FOR COPOLYMER-1 (COP-1)
Patent expands use of Cop-1, previously approved for the treatment of MS
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L.A., California, February 15, 2005 --- Proneuron Biotechnologies,
www.proneuron.com, announced today the granting of U.S. Patent No. 6,844,314
for the use of Copolymer-1 (Cop -1) for protection from neuronal
degeneration.  The patent was granted to Proneuron Scientific Founder
Professor Michal Schwartz of the Weizmann Institute of Science. The patent,
exclusively licensed to Proneuron, is owned by Yeda Research and Development
Company Ltd., the commercial arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Cop-1 was invented at the Weizmann Institute of Science over thirty years
ago and licensed to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Nasdaq: "TEVA") for the
treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. Teva's drug, CopaxoneR, was approved by the
FDA several years ago and has since been used safely and successfully. Years
of research, led by Prof. Michal Schwartz of the Weizmann Institute of
Science, has shown that Cop-1 acts as a low-affinity antigen that activates
a wide range of self-reacting T cells, resulting in neuroprotective
autoimmunity that is safe and effective against both CNS white matter and
grey matter degeneration. The neuroprotective effect of Cop-1 vaccination
was demonstrated in preclinical models of acute and chronic neurological
injuries and disorders such as optic nerve injury, head trauma, glaucoma,
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Huntington's disease. 
Under a collaboration agreement with Teva from 2001 and its 2003 expansion,
Cop-1 is being developed by Teva as a therapy for several neurodegenerative
conditions. Under this collaboration, a joint project is in progress to use
Cop-1 for Huntington's disease, ALS and for the attenuation of the
progressive optic nerve and retinal degeneration that causes visual field
loss and eventually blindness in glaucoma patients. Cop-1 is expected to
enter Phase II clinical trials in the near future for a number of
indications.  The collaboration provides for milestone payments to Proneuron
of up to $190 million and includes royalties on worldwide sales. To date,
total payments received from Teva pursuant to this collaboration, exceed $20
million.

The patent granted is the latest in a series of patents granted to Yeda and
licensed to Proneuron including that for ProCord (autologous incubated
macrophage therapy), PN277 and others.

"The evidence for the dual action of Cop-1, as an anti-inflammatory and a
neuroprotective drug, has been fundamentally strengthened thanks to the
research led by Proneuron and the Weizmann Institute of Science. Our
collaboration with Proneuron presents us with a great opportunity to expand
the use of this important drug," said Teva's V.P. of Strategic Business
Planning and New Ventures, Dr. Aharon Schwartz.

"We are very pleased by the issuance of this patent that further supports
Proneuron's drug development efforts. It is a green light for the company
and Teva to further enhance the development of Cop-1 for an expanded list of
indications in addition to the original use for Multiple Sclerosis," said
Proneuron's CEO Mr. Nir Nimrodi.

Proneuron Biotechnologies Inc. is a privately held biopharmaceutical company
developing products for the medical treatment of spinal cord injuries and
other disorders of the central nervous system. Its products are based on
proprietary technology for modulating the interaction between the nervous
and immune systems. The company's products are currently being evaluated in
several clinical studies located in the U.S., Belgium and Israel. These
include: an independently managed, international, multi-center,
randomized-controlled Phase II trial of ProCord, autologous incubated
macrophages, an experimental procedure for spinal cord injuries and a Phase
II program of Cop-1 for the treatment of Huntington's disease (HD), Glaucoma
and other neurodegenerative diseases. The latter is being managed by Teva as
part of the Proneuron's strategic collaboration for development and
commercialization of Cop-1 for various neurodegenerative indications. The
Company is also developing PN277 for the treatment of additional
neurodegenerative diseases.

For additional information, please contact Marjie Hadad, Media Liaison,
Proneuron, Marjie.hadad at proneuron.com.