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News Release

BAXTER AND GLYCOFI TO COLLABORATE ON DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PLATFORM FOR MANUFACTURING OF HUMAN THERAPEUTIC PROTEINS

DEERFIELD, Ill., and LEBANON, NH, May 21, 2003 -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation and GlycoFi, Inc., announced today a research collaboration under which Baxter will evaluate the potential of using GlycoFi's fungal expression platform for the production of human therapeutic proteins.

"The production of many human therapeutic proteins involves complex processes and major capital investments that may limit the ability of the biotech industry to meet future demands for the production of biopharmaceuticals in the pipeline," said Norbert Riedel, chief scientific officer at Baxter. "The advances in manufacturing that GlycoFi's platform presents could lead to a much more efficient production process for human therapeutic proteins, offering benefits across many therapeutic categories."

Currently, many therapeutic proteins require the use of mammalian cell lines in their production process. This process is not only time consuming, it also takes a significant investment in manufacturing capacity. As part of this two-year agreement, Baxter and GlycoFi will collaborate on the development of human therapeutic proteins using GlycoFi's innovative manufacturing platform, which utilizes yeast and filamentous fungi. This novel production platform promises to offer a significantly more efficient manufacturing method. Although fungal expression systems are able to produce human therapeutic proteins, they are currently unable to replicate the complex sugar structures that line the outside of many therapeutic proteins (called glycosylation structures). GlycoFi's innovative technology offers an approach to overcome this limitation. Under the terms of the agreement, Baxter will provide up-front and milestone payments to GlycoFi. Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"A significant production bottleneck exists in the biotech industry, resulting from the number of therapeutic proteins in development and the currently limited capacity that exists for manufacturing these proteins for clinical trials and ultimately, commercialization," said Charles Hutchinson, chief executive officer at GlycoFi. "We've focused on overcoming the challenges associated with using fungi in place of mammalian cells to explore innovative production capabilities that could help address this bottleneck. We welcome the opportunity to work with a company with as much manufacturing expertise as Baxter and we look forward to further exploring the true potential of this unique approach."

Baxter has extensive expertise in therapeutic protein manufacturing for various therapeutic uses, including a commonly prescribed treatment for hemophilia A. Baxter Healthcare Corporation is the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX). Baxter assists health-care professionals and their patients with treatment of complex medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune disorders, kidney disease and trauma. The company applies its expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. For more information about Baxter, please visit www.baxter.com.

GlycoFi, Inc., privately held, was founded in 2000 with the mission of dramatically improving the capacity and cost of producing human therapeutic proteins, while simultaneously enhancing their efficacy and safety as therapeutics. The company harnesses the inherent advantages of yeast and other fungal-based protein expression systems by engineering these systems to produce correctly glycosylated human therapeutic proteins, thus greatly increasing the efficiency, fidelity and scalability at which those proteins can be made. For more information on GlycoFi, please visit the company's website at www.glycofi.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including technological advances in the medical field, product demand and market acceptance, the effect of economic conditions, actions of regulatory bodies, the impact of competitive products and pricing and other risks detailed in the Baxter's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by Baxter's management and are believed to be reasonable, though inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Actual results or experience could differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

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Media Contacts:

Cindy Resman, Baxter, 847-948-2815
Deborah Spak, Baxter, 847948-2349

Jennifer LaBerge, GlycoFi, 603-643-8186 ext. 122
Joan Kureczka, Kureczka-Martin Associates, 415-821-2413
Investor Contacts:
Neville Jeharajah, Baxter, 847-948-2875
Mary Kay Ladone, Baxter, 847-948-3371


Michael Horvath, GlycoFi, 603-643-8186 ext. 106
 
 
 
 
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