Alteon Issued Key Composition-of-Matter Patent Covering Additional A.G.E. Crosslink Breakers to Treat Diseases of Aging and Diabetes PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alteon Inc. (AMEX: ALT) announced today that it has been granted a patent on additional thiazolium compounds in the A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker class. A.G.E. Crosslink Breakers, a class of compounds discovered by Alteon, offer the possibility of the first therapeutic approach to treat and even reverse certain medical conditions related to aging and diabetes. U.S. Patent # 6,790,859 "Reversing advanced glycosylation crosslinks using heterocyclic-substituted thiazolium compounds," issued September 14, 2004, clearly distinguishes Alteon as the leader in the A.G.E. field. These new compounds hold promise for reversing the deleterious aging of key proteins in the body. The patent claims cover their potential utility in treating pathologies of aging and diabetes, including hypertension, retinopathy, cataracts, diabetic kidney disease, glomerulosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, arteriosclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis and the loss of elasticity and wrinkling of the skin. In addition, the compounds are covered for their possible utility in foodstuffs, including plant and animal material, that undergo deterioration and become spoiled or toughened. Alteon's lead A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker, alagebrium, is in several phase 2 clinical trials for its potential in cardiovascular disease conditions, including hypertension and heart failure. "The potential for A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker compounds is tremendous," said Kenneth I. Moch, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to protect our proprietary position in this technology and build a valuable pipeline behind alagebrium." About Alteon Alteon is developing several new classes of drugs that reverse or slow down diseases of aging and complications of diabetes. These compounds have an impact on a fundamental pathological process caused by protein-glucose complexes called Advanced Glycation End-products (A.G.E.s). The formation and crosslinking of A.G.E.s lead to a loss of flexibility and function in body tissues, organs and vessels and have been shown to be a causative factor in many age-related diseases and diabetic complications. Alteon has created a library of novel classes of compounds targeting the A.G.E. Pathway. Alteon's lead compound alagebrium chloride (formerly ALT-711), the only A.G.E. Crosslink Breaker in advanced human testing, has demonstrated safety and efficacy in several Phase 2 trials and is actively being developed for systolic hypertension and heart failure. Ongoing clinical trials include SPECTRA (Systolic Pressure Efficacy and Safety Trial of Alagebrium) and PEDESTAL (Patients with Impaired Ejection Fraction and Diastolic Dysfunction: Efficacy and Safety Trial of ALagebrium), as well as a third trial exploring mechanism of action in endothelial dysfunction. For more information on Alteon, visit the company's website at http://www.alteon.com/. Any statements contained in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, those relating to technology and product development (including the possibility that early clinical trial results may not be predictive of results that will be obtained in large-scale testing or that any clinical trials will not demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to obtain requisite approvals or will not result in marketable products), regulatory approval processes, intellectual property rights and litigation, competitive products, ability to obtain financing, and other risks identified in Alteon's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained in this press release is accurate as of the date indicated. Actual results, events or performance may differ materially. Alteon undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revision to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. DATASOURCE: Alteon Inc. CONTACT: Susan M. Pietropaolo, Director, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Alteon Inc., +1-201-818-5537 Web site: http://www.alteonpharma.com/ http://www.alteon.com/

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