November 1, 2001 — WAKEFIELD, MA — Nucryst Pharmaceuticals Corp., formerly Westaim Biomedical Corp., said today that it is pursuing pharmaceutical opportunities for its patented silver nanocrystalline technology.

Nucryst Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of The Westaim Corporation, is a developer and manufacturer of antimicrobial nanocrystalline silver dressings.

The establishment of Nucryst ‘s pharmaceutical research and development laboratory in the company’s new headquarters in Wakefield, Massachusetts will focus on the development of their proprietary nanotechnology for specific medical conditions.

“We’re enthusiastic about the pharmaceutical potential for our patented nanotechnology,” said Scott H. Gillis, president of Nucryst Pharmaceuticals. “The success of our Silcryst nanocrystals as a barrier to infection with our device products will serve as the foundation for our pharmaceutical efforts. Our technology has properties for numerous therapeutic opportunities and we are currently researching which applications hold the greatest opportunity.”

Nucryst is one of the first companies to translate nanotechnology, the science of extremely small materials, into clinically and commercially proven healthcare products.