human trials commence early 2003

Good news released today as Antisense ANP/ANPO moves closer to human trials. Has been dropping with the market recently but still on track with the research.

ANTISENSE THERAPEUTICS LIMITED 2002-10-08 ASX-SIGNAL-G

HOMEX - Melbourne

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
* Novel compound for Multiple Sclerosis ("MS")
* Pre-clinical studies successful
* Now ready to seek approval to conduct human trials
* Global MS drug sales over US$1 billion in 2000

Antisense Therapeutics Ltd is pleased to announce the successful
completion of a package of pre-clinical (animal) studies, including
toxicology and pharmacokinetics, which enables the Company to apply
for approval to conduct dosing of human volunteers for its product,
ATL1102. ATL1102 is being developed for the treatment of the
debilitating neurological disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and also
has potential application in other inflammatory diseases such as
asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. MS affects about 2.5 million people
around the world and global drug sales treating MS totaled over US$1
billion in 2000.

These pre-clinical studies commenced in the USA in February 2002 and
were completed on schedule in October 2002. Data from these studies
will be submitted to an Institutional Review Board ("IRB") in the UK
to obtain approval for the conduct of a Phase I safety clinical trial
in that country.

The Phase I clinical trial will be conducted in healthy human
volunteers. This study will investigate the pharmacokinetics and
safety of ATL1102.

Trial protocol preparations are presently in progress, and dosing is
planned to commence in the early part of 2003 once approval to
conduct the trial has been granted by the IRB. The last stage of
manufacture, being the process of formulating bulk drug into sterile
injectable solution for clinical trials, has commenced at an
accredited manufacturing facility in the US.

Following successful completion of this trial, it is anticipated that
an application will be made in 2004, to undertake preliminary
efficacy trials in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (Phase IIa).

ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND ATL1102

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a life-long chronic disease of the central
nervous system in which the body damages its own nerve cells. While
the cause of MS is unknown, it is thought to be an autoimmune disease
whereby the body produces immune cells against a normal component of
the body as if it were foreign. As there is no cure for the disease,
the aims of therapy are to improve recovery from attacks, to prevent
or lesson the number of relapses and their severity, and to reduce
disease progression. While there are drugs on the market today for
MS, there are significance issues associated with the use of these
drugs highlighting the need for improved therapies.

The antisense drug ATL1102 targets an immune cell protein called
VLA-4. VLA-4 protein has been shown to contribute to the onset of
Multiple Sclerosis. Individuals with MS have excessive amounts of
this protein, which causes white blood cells to migrate to the
central nervous system and attack healthy nerve cells. ATL1102 would
potentially block the body from making unnecessary quantities of the
VLA-4 protein that is responsible for MS progression.

ABOUT ANTISENSE THERAPEUTICS

Antisense Therapeutics Ltd is an Australian publicly listed (ASX:
ANP) biopharmaceutical drug discovery and development company. ANP's
mission is to create, develop and commercialise novel antisense
pharmaceuticals for large unmet markets. Its two most advanced
projects target Multiple Sclerosis (ATL1102), and Psoriasis
(ATL1101).

The Company's access to these projects is derived from its technology
and research collaborations with Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc and the
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. Californian based Isis is a
world leader in the field of antisense drug technology. The
collaboration agreement with Isis provides ANP with an extensive
package of access to Isis's antisense drug discovery technology to
commercialise antisense drugs to a number of protein targets
including those relevant to the treatment of viral, skin, growth and
inflammatory disorders.

ANP plans to commercialise its pipeline via licensing/collaboration
agreements with major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

ANP's major shareholders include Circadian Technologies Limited (ASX:
CIR), Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ISIS) and the Murdoch
Childrens Research Institute.

Further company details are available on the Antisense Therapeutics
website.

Contact Information: Website: www.antisense.com.au

MANAGING DIRECTOR - Mark Diamond
+61 3 9827 8999

INVESTOR RELATIONS - Natalie Korchev
+61 3 9827 8999

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