BUSINESS WIRE; Wednesday February 4, 8:06 am EST

Dr. Claudio Villella (MBBS) of the Centre Clinic in St. Kilda provided Marine with an initial written summary from the study after 20 weeks of the program completed in October 1997. The study continues and an additional progress report is expected at the end of February 1998.

According to Villella's letter to the company, "Participants were required to take 20 mls of TBL-12(TM) twice daily. Each month participants were evaluated for weight gain, improvement in laboratory parameters, improvement in health (decrease in symptoms and increase in feeling of well being as being assessed by the diary) and tolerance of TBL-12(TM)."

"TBL-12(TM) was well tolerated with compliance estimated at greater than 80 percent of the doses being taken. No side effects were reported in this group of trial participants. The study group was small and there was no control group, therefore it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from this study at 20 weeks. However in this group of five people TBL-12(TM) was very well tolerated, produced no side effects and compliance was well maintained. All people increased in weight. T Cells increased on average from 346 to 374, but two participants did have a significant rise in viral load," the report indicated.

"Thus TBL-12(TM) may hold some promise as an adjunctive treatment in HIV in combination with anti-retroviral medication. These results support continued studies of TBL-12(TM) to more clearly define its role in the treatment of HIV infection", Villella's report concluded. Initially six patients met the inclusion criteria and started the program. After a month, one patient dropped out for personal reasons. The remaining five patients all completed the initial 20 weeks.

All five participants were male, had prior retroviral treatment which had been stable for at least three months, were continuing with their regular HIV treatment, and all had acquired HIV via homosexual sex. The mean age was 36.4 years at the commencement of the trial (32.6 - 40.2 years).

Marine Pty. Ltd. and the Council are continuing the study. Marine Pty. Ltd. provides the product and finances the tests called for in the study. TBL-12(TM) is a powerful, clinically tested immune modulator. Immune modulation is a method in which the immune system gets "unregulated." It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and a highly concentrated form of sea cucumber processed by Marine Pty. Ltd. using a proprietary formula and packaged, frozen, in 20 gram jars. A unit of 56 jars supplies a patient for 28 days.

For 18 years, Marine Pty. Ltd. and its key personnel have processed the sea cucumber and the Marine Pty. Ltd. holds four therapeutic registrations in Australia for its core products.

TBL-12(TM) is being used by body builders and athletes in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, as it promotes muscle development but is not a steroid. In addition a number of patients use the supplement on a daily basis to enhance the immune system. There are also Cancer and AIDS patients in the United States who use the product and report better health and well being. The product is shipped frozen, overnight, to customers and costs about $100.00 per week.

In mid February Marine Research USA will release its catalog of 23 new neutraceuticals and supplements that are being marketed to patients through their physicians by HealthLink International, a division of Marine. All are natural products formulated by physicians and packaged in an approved FDA and TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration - Australia) facility.

According to Samuel J. Grant, president of Marine and managing director of Marine Pty. Ltd., "ten of the products include SeaCare(TM), manufactured in Marine's Australian facilities."

SeaCare(TM) was developed using specially selected species of sea cucumbers harvested off the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. Chinese healers have used the sea cucumber for centuries. This product has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Sea cucumber is a marine invertebrate, of which there are many species found all over the world. Preliminary tests have shown Marine's product to be safe and effective for the treatment of arthritis and muscular pain.

"Marine Research Pty. Ltd. is the only company authorized to process the Australian sea cucumber for distribution and marketing at pharmaceutical grade. Using a proprietary process and certain formulations, Marine removes all toxins," said Grant.

ADBS seeks business opportunities in bio and medical technology companies and ventures where research and development has been completed, intellectual property is protected and ADBS can provide management, marketing and/or financing to increase sales and revenue.

In addition to its 80.0 percent ownership of Marine, ADBS owns 100 percent of Future Medical Technologies Inc., Boulder, Colo., which develops, manufactures and markets disposable diagnostic products for medical and industrial applications to enable microbiologists to test for bacteria in food, water and other liquids.

ADBS also provides funding to DBD Co. LLC, its joint venture with Biopharmaceutics Inc., (OTC BB:BOPH - news) for the commercialization of Mitolactol(TM), a cancer drug that holds Orphan Drug status for brain and cervical cancer. The Venture is pursuing IND and NDA filings with the FDA. The Venture is scheduled to meet with a division of the FDA Feb. 13, 1998 to review its scientific findings; the recommendations of DBD Consultants, Ehrreich Consulting, and a report from two DBD scientific advisory boards formed to deal with the new drugs.

Contact: ABS Group Inc., Salt Lake City Emanuel A. Floor, 801/521-8000 801/532-2160 (Fax) or Marine Research USA Inc. Samuel J. Grant, 801/521-8000 801/532-2160 (Fax)

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