XECHEM'S ORPHAN DRUG STATUS APPROVED FOR ITS SICKLE CELL MEDICINE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Xechem International announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Xechem UK Ltd., has received Orphan Drug designation from the European Medicine Evaluation Agency (EMEA) for NIPRISAN (now known as NICOSAN(TM)/HEMOXIN(TM)), a phytopharmaceutical product that has shown efficacy in the treatment of Sickle Cell Disease. The designation covers all 25 countries that comprise the European Union. Similar Orphan Drug status was previously granted to Xechem by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Genetic Engineering News (http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=1070439XSL_NEWSML_TO_NEWSML_WEB.xml)