PRESS RELEASE - AUGUST 10th, 2009

UPSTREAM BIOSCIENCES SEEKS LICENSORS OR ACQUIRERS FOR DRUG DISCOVERY PORTFOLIO AND CANCER DIAGNOSTIC PLATFORM

Vancouver, British Columbia –Upstream Biosciences Inc. (OTCBB: UPBS) today announced that the company is actively seeking licensors or acquirers for its novel anti-parasitic drug discovery portfolio and cancer diagnostic platform.

Mr. Joel Bellenson Co-founder, Chairman, CEO stated, “On July 27 2009, Upstream announced the formation of an independent committee of the board to evaluate and assess the strategic direction of the company. The independent committee has recommended that the company undertake an aggressive strategy to seek licensors or acquirers. Management and the board are in full support of these actions.”

Upstream’s drug discovery portfolio is based around a unique, small molecule scaffold that was discovered using an artificial intelligence/combinatorial chemistry diversity strategy by leveraging historical anti-leishmaniasis screening data from the literature. The Company has filed provisional patent applications claiming the composition of matter, synthesis and use of its compounds.

A pipeline of more than 100 anti-protozoan compounds has been synthesized to date. Several Upstream compounds have demonstrated in vitro efficacy at µM concentrations against leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, and/or malaria in vitro.

In vitro safety testing of Upstream lead compounds human THP-1 cells has been demonstrated at 10µM concentration. In vivo LD50 data in mice demonstrated tolerance of several of Upstream’s anti-protozoan compounds at 5mg/kg and some were tolerated at even higher concentrations. In vivo efficacy studies have been limited to date as current compounds are not easily water soluble and Upstream lacks the necessary financial resources to develop an appropriate formulation.

Upstream’s cancer diagnostic platform is based on unique genetic markers that may be linked to a patient’s susceptibility to developing certain cancers including liver, prostate, ovarian and thyroid cancer. The Company has filed provisional patent applications claiming the genetic variations and their use in determining susceptibility and potential therapeutic outcomes.

Upstream Biosciences has also prepared a technical package, which will be made available for review by interested parties under a nondisclosure agreement.

Interested parties are asked to please contact Mr. Jeffrey Bacha, an independent director of Upstream Biosciences Inc. and member of the special committee, on or before August 21, 2009 via telephone at +1 604 638 1674 or via email at info@upstreambio.com.

About Upstream Biosciences, Inc.
Upstream Biosciences is focused on developing and commercializing drug candidates to treat tropical diseases, including Leishmaniasis, Trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) and Malaria caused by parasites that have developed resistance to available treatments. These diseases afflict millions of people living in Asia, Africa, and Middle East with death, illness, malnourishment and economic hardship. Upstream's drug candidates are generated using its proprietary computer-assisted drug discovery process. The company's lead drug candidates have demonstrated anti-parasitic efficacy in vitro and positive safety data in animals.

 

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