Press Release

Shaman Senior Vice President Receives Distinguished Novartis Award in Diabetes

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 22, 2000-- Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC BB:SHPH.OB - news) today announced that Gerald M. Reaven, M.D., Shaman Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs and Professor Active Emeritus at Stanford School of Medicine, is the recipient of the distinguished second annual Novartis Award for Long-standing Achievement in diabetes, presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in Jerusalem on September 20, 2000.

In a meeting in Paris in March of this year, the International Jury for the Novartis Award in Diabetes met and unanimously voted for Dr. Reaven as the recipient of the Long-standing Achievement Award. The yearly award, which is accompanied by $25,000, honors innovative contributions in clinical research, education and clinical practice that have had a major effect on the field of diabetes mellitus. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation established the annual award last year to recognize outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of diabetic patients.

``I am deeply honored by this award,'' said Dr. Reaven, ``and will certainly use the monetary sum that comes with it to further my research efforts to help patients who have Syndrome X or type 2 diabetes. But I also want to say that I am deeply indebted to all those medical researchers whose published results helped me form the scientific foundation of my work. In addition, I am enormously grateful for the contributions made by the medical students, research fellows and faculty colleagues with whom I have had the pleasure of collaborating. Those talented and creative individuals who made up my research team played a huge role in my accomplishments, without which I could have done nothing.''

Dr. Reaven's research interests have focused on investigating the role of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis and clinical outcome of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. He has been honored previously with the Banting Medals from both the American and British Diabetes Associations for his outstanding research contributions, and the Claude Bernard Lectureship of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, and the Middleton Award from the Veterans Administration for Distinguished Research. Most recently, frustrated with the distortion of his research of Syndrome X and its role in causing heart attacks, he authored his first popular book ``SYNDROME X Overcoming The Silent Killer That Can Give You a Heart Attack.'' He has also formulated a dietary supplement through Shaman, called the Syn X Bar based on his Syndrome X Diet. This bar is designed to keep triglyceride (blood fat) at healthy levels and promote overall cardiovascular health.

Dr. Reaven was the first physician to identify and describe Syndrome X and its role in causing half or more of all heart attacks, and how it can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In more than 40 years of clinical research he has published more than 500 papers in the most prestigious medical journals.

Born in Gary, Indiana, Dr. Reaven spent most of his growing up years in various parts of Ohio and Indiana. After undergraduate training at the University of Chicago, he took his medical degree and internship at the University of Chicago. During the next six years, he did a two-year stint in the U.S. Army, completed a research fellowship and finished his clinical training. In 1960 Stanford University School of Medicine appointed him to the faculty of Internal Medicine. In 1997 he joined Shaman Pharmaceuticals as Senior Vice President.

For more information about Syndrome X or to order the book or bars, call 877/915-4045 or visit the website at www.syndromeXweb.com.

Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leader in medicinal plant research and commercialization of proprietary dietary supplements. Shaman works collaboratively with indigenous communities to discover, harvest and reforest medicinal plants. The Company also provides cultural educational programs in conjunction with rainforest communities.

This press release contains, among other things, certain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to Shaman's ability to advance its development and research programs. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties including the Risk Factors listed in the Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10K and 10K/A for the year ended December 31, 1999. These filings are available upon request at 650/952-7070. Also visit Shaman at http://www.Shaman.com.

     Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
     Corporate Communications, 650/952-7070 ext. 466