Health/Medical Writers / Business Editors

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--XKEM--
Xechem International, Inc. (OTCBB: XKEM) today announced
that it is anticipating revenues between $6 million and $12 million in
2005. A majority of this revenue is expected to come from sales in
Nigeria on their orphan drug NICOSAN(TM) (HEMOXIN(TM)), used to treat
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Furthermore, the Ministry of Health in
Nigeria and the Ministry of Science and Technology are supporting
Xechem's initiatives to control SCD, an insidious and painful genetic
blood disorder often resulting in death at an early age, with
NICOSAN(TM).
Xechem is poised for significant growth over the next year. The
Company has strategically targeted Nigeria as a focal point. As the
seventh largest country in the world, Nigeria maintains the highest
sickle cell disease population in the world estimated at between four
and five million sufferers, roughly three to four percent of the
country's population. Xechem has been working in total cooperation
with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development
(NIPRD), a division of the Ministry of Health, and has been providing
NICOSAN(TM) on a compassionate basis since February 2003. In addition,
the commercial launch of NICOSAN(TM) is expected in the first half of
2005.
The Company's unique relationships with the Nigerian Ministry of
Health and another of its divisions, the National Agency of Food Drug
Administration and Control (the Nigerian Food and Drug
Administration), has created a stable business environment that will
nurture the continued development and use of NICOSAN(TM). While Xechem
owns the exclusive rights to NICOSAN(TM), Xechem Nigeria, a majority
owned subsidiary of Xechem International, will manage this project.
According to Xechem's President William Pursley, "All of the
essential elements needed to generate revenue are in place. First, the
manufacturing facility in Nigeria, provided by the Nigerian Ministry
of Science and Technology, allows for the drug to be produced and
disseminated locally to a mass of SCD sufferers urgently in need of
pain relief, quickly and efficiently. Also, we have an established
licensing agreement with NIPRD, and finally, we have the backing of
both the Ministries of Health and Science and Technology in Nigeria
who will encourage SCD education, prevention and treatment among
Nigerians, including NICOSAN(TM)."
Xechem is also looking to establish HEMOXIN in the United States
for SCD sufferers and will transfer technology from Nigeria to the
U.S. to set up a second manufacturing site to supply the U.S.
population. The Company anticipates filing a phase I/II IND in the
U.S. this year. In September of 2003, the company received Orphan Drug
designation from the Food and Drug Association, Office of Orphan Drug
Products Development for HEMOXIN. In the United States, there are
approximately 80,000 patients suffering with SCD who have, on average,
three to five crises per year. The estimated annual insurance costs
for hospitalization associated with SCD crises are approximately $475
million.

ABOUT NICOSAN(TM) (HEMOXIN):

NICOSAN(TM) is a phytopharmaceutical composition of four
traditional plants including Pterocarpus osun, Eugenia caryophyllum,
Sorghum bicolor and Piper gineenses, which are indigenous to Nigeria
and extracted in a proprietary process. NIPRD published results of
clinical trials in Nigeria demonstrating safety and efficacy in
humans. More recently, as published in the May 2003 issue of the
British Journal of Haematology, the anti sickling effect of NIPRISIN
was proven in five different parameters.
Xechem International, Inc. is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical
company focusing on proprietary technologies for orphan diseases. Its
mission is to increase the quality and quantity of life of the people
who suffer from these diseases.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, which are intended to be covered by safe harbors created
hereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties, including the ability of the Companies to
successfully develop and commercialize their technologies, and other
factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements
of the Companies to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements of the Companies expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements.

KEYWORD: INTERNATIONAL AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST NEW JERSEY
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ADVERTISING/MARKETING BANKING MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
SOURCE: Xechem International, Inc.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Xechem International, Inc.
William Pursley, 732-247-3300
732-247-4090 fax
xechem@erols.com
OR
Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger Assoc. LLC
Donald C. Weinberger, 212-370-4500
212-370-4505 fax
don@wolfeaxelrod.com
OR
Media
Andria Arena, 212-370-4500
212-370-4505 fax
andria@wolfeaxelrod.com

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DaDog