20 December 2000 - GPC Biotech Awarded DM 2,5 Million EUREKA Research Grant to Discover Novel Anti-Cancer Drug Targets

Martinsried/Munich (Germany), December 20, 2000

GPC Biotech AG (Neuer Markt Frankfurt: GPC), a leading genomics- and proteomics-based drug discovery company, today announced that it has been awarded a DM 2.5 million (US$ 1.1 million) research grant from the BMBF (German Federal Ministry of Research) under the EUREKA research initiative (E! 2370 Cancer Circuitry). During the 3 year EUREKA project, GPC Biotech and its research partner Eurogentec SA (Seraing, Belgium) will develop innovative approaches to mapping disease signaling pathways of major types of human cancer.

GPC Biotech will use its integrated genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics technology platform to discover and validate novel targets for the development of mechanism-based anti-cancer therapeutics. Eurogentec will mainly focus on DNA synthesis and analysis using its high throughput technologies. Based on this input, GPC Biotech will generate extensive gene expression data allowing the assessment of gene deregulation in tumor cells. Using its comprehensive proteomics platform GPC Biotech will work on elucidating disease signaling pathways through protein-protein interaction mapping. GPC Biotech will develop both biological and in silico detection methods of protein interactions. The project is expected to have commercial value beyond the field of cancer as the insights gained and technology developed are expected to be applicable to future efforts in discovering disease pathways and targets in other therapeutic areas.

Nikolai Kley, Ph.D., Vice President Functional Genomics and Proteomics at GPC Biotech, said: "We are delighted to be awarded this EUREKA research grant in cooperation with our new partner Eurogentec for the identification of novel cancer drug targets. We expect that the combination of our technologies will accelerate the development of a new generation of potentially more efficacious and safer anti-cancer drugs that GPC Biotech pursues in its internal drug development programs."

EUREKA is a Europe-wide network for industrial research and development that was founded in 1985. Market-oriented research projects that involve advanced technologies and cooperations of partners from different European countries are supported.GPC Biotech's cooperation with Eurogentec represents one of 32 projects with German project leadership which are currently supported by EUREKA.

GPC Biotech AG is a genomics and proteomics-based drug discovery company focused on applying a number of proprietary genomic, proteomic and drug discovery technologies to accelerate the identification and validation of novel drug targets for development of mechanism-based drugs in oncology, infectious diseases and immunology. GPC Biotech has leading cell cycle expertise and a broad intellectual property position with 53 patents issued and over 150 patents pending. Drug discovery alliance partners include: Aventis Pharma (PAVE.PSE), Bayer AG (BAY.FSE), DuPont Pharmaceuticals (DD-B.NYS), Boehringer Ingelheim, the Altana AG (ALT.FSE) subsidiary Byk Gulden, Cell Genesys (CEGE.NAS), Maxim Pharmaceuticals (MAXM.NAS; MAXM.SSE), Evotec Biosystems AG (EVT.FSE), Morphosys AG MOR.FSE) and Karo Bio USA (KARO.SSE). GPC Biotech AG is headquartered in Munich (Germany) with US subsidiaries in Cambridge, MA and in Princeton, NJ.

The economic projections and forward-looking statements contained in this document relate to future facts. Such projections and forward-looking statements are subject to risks which cannot be foreseen and which are beyond the control of GPC Biotech AG. GPC Biotech AG is therefore not in a position to make any representation as to the accuracy of economic projections and forward-looking statements or their impact on the financial situation of GPC Biotech AG or the market in the shares of GPC Biotech AG."

For further information please contact:

GPC Biotech AG
Petra Bassen
Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Tel +49 89 85 65 26 91
Fax +49 89 85 65 26 10
ir@gpc-biotech.com