Protein Polymer Technologies' Stockholders Elect Directors, Approve Employee Stock Purchase Plan

    SAN DIEGO, April 29, 1997 -- Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPTI) announced today the election of seven current members and one new member to the Company's Board of Directors during the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, held last Friday, April 25, 1997.  In other business, stockholders approved an employee stock purchase plan for Company employees, and ratified Ernst & Young, LLP, as the Company's independent public accountants for the 1997 fiscal year.
    Newly elected to the Board of Directors was Patricia J. Cornell, Vice President and Director of Taurus Advisory Group, a registered investment adviser.  Reelected Directors included:  Edward E. David, Ph.D., technology consultant and former U.S. Presidential Assistant for Science and Technology; Philip J. Davis, Senior Vice President, Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette; Edward J. Hartnett, Company Group Chairman (retired), Johnson & Johnson Company; Brent R. Nicklas, Managing General Partner, Landmark Partners; J. Thomas Parmeter, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Protein Polymer Technologies, Inc.; Bertram I. Rowland, Ph.D., J.D.; President, DrugAbuse Sciences, Inc.; George R. Walker, Vice President-Finance (retired), Esso Europe.  All Directors are elected to annual terms.
    Also during the meeting, stockholders approved a new Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  The plan, designed to increase employee stock ownership, provides eligible employees the opportunity to acquire PPTI common stock at a slight discount to market through regular payroll deductions.
    Protein Polymer Technologies has developed a proprietary protein-based biotechnology platform, that enables the creation of biomaterials which target multiple applications in biomedical and specialty use markets.  The different classes of biocompatible polymers developed by PPTI have been genetically engineered to enable cell growth, promote the regeneration of tissue, bond to synthetic surfaces and resorb into tissue at controlled rates.  These features of PPTI's protein polymers can be applied to a wide variety of commercial applications.