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<p><b>PLIVA d.d. ANNOUNCES JOINT RESEARCH VENTURE WITH GLAXO WELLCOME PLC TO FIND 
  NEW ANTIBIOTICS TO BEAT TREATMENT RESISTANCE</b></p>
<p> Zagreb, 1st February 1999 </p>
<p>PLIVA, the largest pharmaceutical company from Central and Eastern Europe, 
  announces that they are today signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the 
  UK-based pharmaceutical company, Glaxo Wellcome plc, for a research collaboration 
  aimed at finding the next generation of macrolide antibiotics, capable of overcoming 
  the growing problem of treatment resistance.</p>
<p> The Memorandum of Understanding, while not legally binding, records the intention 
  of the two companies to enter a three-year collaboration involving scientists 
  in Zagreb, Verona and Stevenage. The companies will aim to conclude a formal 
  agreement by the end of March 1999. </p>
<p>The collaboration will provide extensive benefits by combining PLIVA's long 
  established macrolide research programme, which has already yielded discoveries 
  like Azithromycin, and Glaxo Wellcome's expertise in microbiology and combinatorial 
  chemistry and their ability in drug development. Both companies have a long 
  and successful track record in the anti-infectives area. </p>
<p>The success of macrolides is largely due to their spectrum of activity, covering 
  so-called atypical pathogens, such as chlamydia and mycoplasma. These organisms 
  are increasingly being recognised as causal agents in lower and upper respiratory 
  tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, and are intrinsically resistant 
  to many antibiotics. The existing macrolides have been very successful but there 
  is now room for a novel molecule which combines the best properties of existing 
  macrolides, together with activity against resistant bacteria.</p>
<p> Mr. Zeljko Covic, PLIVA's CEO, emphasises that: "PLIVA has a long experience 
  especially in medicinal chemistry of complex macrolides proven by the successful 
  invention of Azithromycin, a leading compound in this class. Combining PLIVA 
  and Glaxo Wellcome's expertise will provide genuine synergies and will hopefully 
  accelerate the discovery of the next generation macrolide." </p>
<p>During collaboration both companies will share responsibility for activities 
  up to Phase I, with Glaxo Wellcome taking responsibility for clinical development 
  beyond Phase I. On the other hand, PLIVA will be responsible for development 
  of a commercially viable process for the manufacturing of a lead compound. Furthermore, 
  it is envisaged that PLIVA will be the primary production source for active 
  substance. </p>
1	<p><b>PLIVA d.d. ANNOUNCES JOINT RESEARCH VENTURE WITH GLAXO WELLCOME PLC TO FIND
2	NEW ANTIBIOTICS TO BEAT TREATMENT RESISTANCE</b></p>
3	<p> Zagreb, 1st February 1999 </p>
4	<p>PLIVA, the largest pharmaceutical company from Central and Eastern Europe,
5	announces that they are today signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the
6	UK-based pharmaceutical company, Glaxo Wellcome plc, for a research collaboration
7	aimed at finding the next generation of macrolide antibiotics, capable of overcoming
8	the growing problem of treatment resistance.</p>
9	<p> The Memorandum of Understanding, while not legally binding, records the intention
10	of the two companies to enter a three-year collaboration involving scientists
11	in Zagreb, Verona and Stevenage. The companies will aim to conclude a formal
12	agreement by the end of March 1999. </p>
13	<p>The collaboration will provide extensive benefits by combining PLIVA's long
14	established macrolide research programme, which has already yielded discoveries
15	like Azithromycin, and Glaxo Wellcome's expertise in microbiology and combinatorial
16	chemistry and their ability in drug development. Both companies have a long
17	and successful track record in the anti-infectives area. </p>
18	<p>The success of macrolides is largely due to their spectrum of activity, covering
19	so-called atypical pathogens, such as chlamydia and mycoplasma. These organisms
20	are increasingly being recognised as causal agents in lower and upper respiratory
21	tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, and are intrinsically resistant
22	to many antibiotics. The existing macrolides have been very successful but there
23	is now room for a novel molecule which combines the best properties of existing
24	macrolides, together with activity against resistant bacteria.</p>
25	<p> Mr. Zeljko Covic, PLIVA's CEO, emphasises that: "PLIVA has a long experience
26	especially in medicinal chemistry of complex macrolides proven by the successful
27	invention of Azithromycin, a leading compound in this class. Combining PLIVA
28	and Glaxo Wellcome's expertise will provide genuine synergies and will hopefully
29	accelerate the discovery of the next generation macrolide." </p>
30	<p>During collaboration both companies will share responsibility for activities
31	up to Phase I, with Glaxo Wellcome taking responsibility for clinical development
32	beyond Phase I. On the other hand, PLIVA will be responsible for development
33	of a commercially viable process for the manufacturing of a lead compound. Furthermore,
34	it is envisaged that PLIVA will be the primary production source for active
35	substance. </p>