CroFab Shortage Press Release

Melville, NY - March XX, 200 - Protherics Inc. (London Stock Exchange, PTI.L) and Savage Laboratories®, the pharmaceutical division of Altana Inc., announced today the potential shortage of the snakebite antivenom, CroFab™ (Crotalidae Polyvalent Immune Fab -- Ovine) for the 2002 snakebite season. CroFab™ is marketed in the United States by Savage Labs and is indicated for the management of patients with minimal or moderate North American crotalid envenomation. The term crotalid describes the Crotalidae family of venomous snakes which includes rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths/water moccasins. CroFab™ was developed and is manufactured by Protherics Inc. The companies have notified wholesalers, hospitals and poison centers of the potential shortage. CroFab™ is one of two crotalid antivenoms available in the United States; Antivenin Crotalidae Polyvalent is produced and marketed by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Inc.

The potential shortage of CroFab™ during the upcoming snakebite season is the result of a short-term problem with the production process. During February and March 2002, the

outsourced process for the filling and freeze drying of CroFab™ was found to be out of specification, which will result in at least a two-month delay in the release of CroFab™ to the market. The outsourced supplier has identified the problem, implemented corrective action and expects the filling and freeze-drying process to resume shortly. Protherics hopes to have CroFab™ available for release to the market in early June. The process, however, may take longer. It is possible that there will be no CroFab™ available in the United States this snakebite season.

Nearly all venomous snakebites are preventable. To avoid envenomation, snakebite experts

recommend the following precautions:

Hikers should wear sturdy boots or shoes that extend beyond the ankle when in snake territory.
When a snake is encountered, it should be left alone. One should not approach a venomous snake, whether to catch it or to kill it. Half of all U.S. bites occur when a person knowingly puts himself in the way of the snake.
When in snake territory, people should not put their hands behind rocks, under fallen branches or in any hidden openings where snakes may be lurking.
To remove a venomous snake from one's home or yard, the local Animal Control, Fire Department or Health Department should be called for assistance.

Savage Laboratories will notify hospitals, wholesalers and poison centers with any updates on the status of product availability. Any individuals bitten by a snake should immediately contact or go directly to the nearest poison center or hospital emergency room. A complete list of local poison centers is available through the American Association of Poison Control Centers (800/222-1222, www.aapcc.org).

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About Savage Labs

Savage Laboratories^® is a pharmaceutical division of Altana, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Byk-Gulden, a multi-national pharmaceutical company based in Konstanz, Germany. Currently the strategic focus of Savage Laboratories is emergency/critical care and women's health care. More information is available at www.savagelabs.com.

About Protherics

Protherics is an international biopharmaceutical company, whose platform technology is the development and production of immunotherapeutics. Protherics' product portfolio includes two products that have received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval - CroFab™, a rattlesnake antivenom, and DigiFab™ (Digoxin Immune Fab (Ovine)), a treatment for digoxin toxicity. The Company's ordinary shares are listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and are traded on the London Stock Exchange. (PTI.L)

Forward Looking Statements

This release, and oral statements made from time to time by Company representatives concerning the subject matter hereof, may contain so-called "forward looking statements". These statements can be identified by introductory words such as "expects", "plans", "will", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", words of similar meaning, and by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements frequently are discussing the Company's growth strategy, operating and financial goals, plans relating to regulatory submissions and approvals and development programs. Many factors may cause actual results to differ from the Company's forward-looking statements, including inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of risks and uncertainties, some of which are known and others of which are not. Those and other risks are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available from the SEC or may be obtained upon request from the Company. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results or events, and one should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements

Member Comments: Add A Comment

CroFab Shortage Press Release	Reply
Anonymous post on June 21, 2003	Mail this to a friend!
I may catch h!!l for this, but I would think that it would only be fair for those who choose to keep venomous snakes to be required to aquire and keep their own antivenin. If the stocks are in short supply,it seems that those who are legitimately accidentally bitten(while gardening,accidentally treading on a snake,etc), should have first access. If someone CHOOSES to be around venomous snakes, then they are assuming the risk of being bitten. They should have to assume the responsibility of their own safety,and in the event of being bitten, of treating the bite with antivenin. Why should some 5 year old child have to suffer from being bitten while playing in their own yard, because the available antivenin was used on a person bitten by a venomous snake he CHOSE to be around?

CroFab Shortage Press Release	Reply
by RPH on June 30, 2003	Mail this to a friend!
Mail this to all area hospitals. 30 years old man came to ER complaining of snake bite. ER doctor assessed the man and said "He is okay. The man went home and came back 24 hrs later with serious snake bite. Guess what, the hospital is out of CroFab. The ER dept and Pharmacy dept have to send staff 60 miles away to get Crofab. I hope the Fed pass a law for those who play shock and awe with snake to play cash when they show up in ER room for snake bite service. Thanks haa

RE: CroFab Shortage Press Release	Reply
by George2500 on April 30, 2006	Mail this to a friend!
If someone checks into a hospital with a snakebite and the hospital has CroFab, the staff is obligated to use it to treat the bite. It cannot refuse treatment based on the possiility that a 5 year old will need it the following day. People who handle hots do not do so in the expectation of getting bitten. But it does happen. A child's parents do not let him/her go out into the yard expecting the child to be bitten by a venomous snake. But that happens, too. Cool your jets and stop trying to play God.

CroFab Shortage Press Release	Reply
by Nagin on November 13, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
I am interested to develop cheap antivenom but effective from Chicken/duck eggs specially for Nepal. I need serious funding to develop this. Any one knows more on this aspect and interested to help me. Regards

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