RNS Number:4589U
BioFocus PLC
21 January 2004


      For Immediate Release                       21 January 2004


                                    BIOFOCUS plc

                    TRADING UPDATE - MEETS MARKET EXPECTATIONS

BioFocus plc announces today a trading update for the 12 months ended 31
December 2003.

The Company expects its turnover and profit before amortisation of goodwill and
exceptional items to be within the range of market expectations.

Strong performance from the discovery products division and income from
technology access fees offset subdued demand for fee for service business. The
SoftFocusTM brand of compound libraries demonstrated its position as a market
leader, attracting orders from several major pharmaceutical companies.

The Company's financial strength improved during 2003, with unaudited year-end
cash balances in excess of #4m (2002: #3.5m).

There has been an encouraging start to 2004 and the company is presently
negotiating new collaborations. The closure of the Sittingbourne operations was
completed by the end of 2003, on time and within budget. Staff have been
relocated and the new offices and laboratories at Chesterford Park are now fully
operational. It is hoped that a surrender of the lease on the Sittingbourne
premises will be agreed in the next few months.

2003 was a difficult year for the industry but BioFocus is pleased with its
trading performance and the successful management of various changes to the
business during the year. The Company is now well placed with its mix of
collaborations, programmes, products and in-house drug discovery, to take
advantage of the improvement in market conditions.

                                     -ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

BioFocus plc                                                     01799 533500
Geoff McMillan - Chief Executive
Stephen France - Finance Director

Buchanan Communications                                          020 7466 5000
Tim Anderson/Rebecca Skye Dietrich

About BioFocus

BioFocus works in partnership with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies.  It is also developing its own portfolio of internal drug discovery
programmes aimed at providing drug leads for partnering. The company was founded
in 1997 and is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock
Exchange. Clients include Amgen, GSK, Roche and Teijin.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

TSTEANFEADLLEFE